Decadent Honey Sponge Cake Food

DECADENT HONEY SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 F.
• Combine coffee and baking soda well and set aside.
• Using a mixed on high speed, beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Gradually add just 1/2 cup of the sugar,2 Tbsp at a time, beating well after each addition, until well combined and whites are in stiff peaks; set aside.
• Using a clean bowl, beat egg yolks with the remaining 1/2 cup sugar until thick and lemony in color.
• Switch to low speed and mix in honey until well combined.
• Add flour, Amaretto (or liqueur of choice) baking powder, and the coffee mixture on very low speed, mixing just until blended, scraping down sides as needed.
• Raise the speed to medium, then beat well for 2 minutes (set a timer), scraping down bowl as needed.
• Using a spatula, fold in the egg whites gently, just to blend- do not overmix.
• Fold in raisins and nuts gently.
• Pour into a 10 inch tube pan with removable bottom (or an angel food cake pan).
• Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until top is springy and golden, and the cracks appear dry, not wet (cracks are normal).
• Have ready a bottle or funnel set upside down on the counter.
• Invert the cake onto the bottle and let cool completely in the pan.
• Once cooled, use a knife or spatula to loosen edges, then remvoe cake from pan.
• Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• To make the frosting: Put the chocolate in a large heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a boil. Pour the cream over the chocolate, move the bowl gently to let the cream settle. Set the mixture aside until softened, about 4 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Cover the surface of the frosting with plastic wrap. Set aside and let set up at room temperature, about 2 hours.
• To make the cake: Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with a circle of parchment or wax paper.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter at medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Increase the speed to medium-high and slowly add the sugar. Continue beating until light and smooth, about 4 minutes. Turn the mixer off and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the cocoa powder and vanilla and beat at medium speed for 1 minute more. (Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl again, if needed.) With the mixer running at medium-low speed, add the eggs, one at a time, beating for 1 minute between each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Combine the water and milk in a saucepan and bring just to a boil. Remove from the heat.
• With the mixer at low speed, add the flour mixture, about a 1/4 cup at a time. Carefully pour the hot liquid into the batter. Remove the bowl from the mixer and, using a large rubber spatula, finish combining the batter until smooth. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Lightly drop each pan onto the counter to settle the batter.
• Set the pans on the middle rack in the oven. Bake until the cakes begin to pull away from the sides of the pans and the center springs back when touched lightly, about 30 to 35 minutes.
• Cool the cakes, in the pans, on a rack for 10 minutes. Turn the cake layers out of the pans and cool on the rack. (If not assembling the cake right away, wrap the layers in plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 1 day, or freeze for up to 2 months.)
• Assemble the Devil's Food Cake. Place 1 cake layer upside-down on a cake stand or flat plate. Scoop about 1/3 of the icing onto the center of the layer. Using a large, offset spatula, spread the icing evenly over the layer to the edges. Place the other cake layer, rounded-side up, on top. Evenly spread half of the remaining icing over the top, spreading any excess icing down the sides. Spread the remaining icing around the sides of the cake. Use the tip of the offset spatula to make a swirling pattern in the icing. Serve. Store under a cake dome or loosely wrapped with plastic, at room temperature, for up to 2 days.
• Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, GP. All rights reserved

DECADENT CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two 9-inch cake pans with nonstick cooking spray.
• Combine the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on low until well combined (the mixture will be one uniform color). With the machine running on low, add the milk, boiling water, vegetable oil, vanilla and eggs. Mix on high, scraping down the sides as needed, until well combined and the mixture has air bubbles, about 1 minute.
• Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans and bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool about 10 minutes in the pans. Run a thin knife around the edge of each cake, then invert the cakes onto a rack and let cool completely, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Using a serrated knife, cut a small portion from the top of each cake to completely flatten it. Save the trimmings for another use.
• For the frosting: When ready to assemble the cake, combine the powdered sugar and butter in a food processor and pulse until well combined. Add the chocolate and continue to pulse, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the sour cream and process until very smooth, about 1 minute.
• Place one cake layer on a platter and spread half of the frosting on top. Flip over the second cake layer, making sure the flattened side is facing the bottom, and place on top of the first cake layer. Spread the remaining frosting to cover only the top of the cake (leave the sides without frosting). Serve.

KASUTERA (CASTELLA), THE JAPANESE TRADITIONAL HONEY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a cake pan with parchment paper. Butter the paper and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon superfine sugar.
• Bring a saucepan of water to a boil; pour into a large bowl.
• Whisk 1/4 cup honey and milk together in a bowl until smooth.
• Beat eggs with an electric mixer in a bowl placed over the hot water. Gradually add 1 1/3 cup superfine sugar; beat until smooth and mixture is warm. Remove bowl of egg mixture from the bowl of hot water and cool to room temperature, about 5 minutes. Return bowl of egg mixture to the hot water and continue beating. Repeat this process a few times until batter is foamy and thick.
• Pour milk mixture into egg mixture and mix well using a spatula; stir in sifted flour until batter is mixed. Pour batter into the prepared cake pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Spread the remaining 1 tablespoon honey over the top of cake. Serve slices with sweet bean paste and ice cream, if desired.

HONEY SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• In bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• In another bowl, beat egg whites until stiff.
• With electric mixer, beat egg yolks; gradually blend in sugar and almond powder.
• Cream mixture until smooth, about 5 minutes.
• Add honey (and almond extract).
• Mix together milk, baking soda and cooled melted butter; add to egg yolk mixture.
• Gradually add sifted flour mixture.
• When batter is thoroughly blended, quickly but gently fold in egg whites.
• Steaming: Before mixing, bring water in steamer to boil.
• Grease bottom only of 9" round flat-bottom, high-sided bowl (or tube pan, bundt pan or cupcake tins).
• Pour batter into bowl.
• Steam for 1 hour.
• Best served steaming hot, cake can always be resteamed without suffering.