Dark Chocolate Cranberry Rock Cakes Food

DARK CHOCOLATE-CRANBERRY ROCK CAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• In large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through mixture in opposite directions). Stir in chocolate chips and cranberries; set aside.
• In another bowl, beat eggs and 1/2 cup whipping cream with whisk until well blended. Make well in center of flour mixture; pour egg mixture into well. With rubber spatula, fold together all ingredients until combined and smooth.
• Using large cookie scoop, scoop out 12 balls of dough onto cookie sheet. Brush tops with 1 tablespoon whipping cream; sprinkle with course sugar.
• Bake 17 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Serve immediately. Store cooled rock cakes in airtight container; best eaten within 2 days.

DARK CHOCOLATE ALMOND ROCKS

Steps:

• Spread almonds in a large skillet; toast over medium heat until starting to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Pour almonds into a bowl.
• Melt chocolate in top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides to avoid scorching, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; pour in almonds and stir until evenly coated.
• Drop spoonfuls of chocolate-almond mixture onto a plate lined with waxed paper.
• Chill until set, about 10 minutes.

CRANBERRY UPSIDE-DOWN COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Wrap the outside of a 9 inch springform pan with aluminum foil to prevent leaking. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar and 1/3 cup butter. Bring to a boil, then pour into bottom of springform pan. Sprinkle with cranberries and pecans.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the sour cream. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto serving platter and carefully remove pan. Serve warm.

PEAR CRANBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter cake pan.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and spices.
• Beat together sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla with an electric mixer until combined well.
• At low speed, mix in pears and cranberries, then mix in flour mixture until incorporated.
• Spoon batter into pan.
• Bake until a wooden pick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Cool in pan 30 minutes, then turn out onto a rack and cool completely.
• Make glaze:
• Bring cream, brown sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, cinnamon sticks, and a pinch of salt to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, stirring occasionally, then simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.
• Cool glaze 5 minutes. Discard cinnamon sticks, then pour glaze over cake, letting some drip down sides.