Devils Food Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

OLD-FASHIONED DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Spray two 9-inch round baking pans with non-stick baking pray. Line the bottom of each pan with a round of parchment paper. Then spray the parchment paper with non-stick baking spray. Set aside.
• In a large bowl sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter at medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute.
• Gradually add in both sugars, one at a time, and beat until the sugar has been incorporated into the butter. Then increase the speed to high and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. You may need to stop the mixer and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl once in a while to ensure no butter is getting stuck.
• Add in the eggs and egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition, and scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Add in the vanilla extract and beat until combined.
• In a spouted measuring cup, combine the oil and sour cream.
• On the lowest speed setting available, add the flour in three additions, alternating with the sour cream mixture, in two addition, beating until just combined! You should still see the lightest trail of dry ingredients when you stop the mixer.
• Pour in the hot coffee and let the mixture sit, undisturbed, for 30 seconds. Then, using a rubber spatula, gently stir until the batter is just evenly combined.
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans (around 850 grams per pan) and smooth the tops with a rubber spatula.
• Bake in preheated oven for 38 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean, or with a few moist crumbs attached.
• Place the cakes, in the pans, on a wire rack and cool for 20 minutes. Then invert the cakes onto the rack and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Finely chop the chocolate using a large chef's knife. Place the chopped chocolate into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
• In a small saucepan heat the cream and corn syrup over medium-high heat until the mixture comes just short of a rolling boil. Remove the pan from heat and pour over the chopped chocolate.
• Allow the mixture to sit, undisturbed, for 2 minutes. Then, using a rubber spatula or metal spoon, gently stir until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth and glossy. Stir in the vanilla.
• With the mixer on medium-speed, add in the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition, and not adding more until the first addition has been completely incorporated into the frosting. Beat in the salt.
• Refrigerate the frosting, loosely covered, for about 1 hour, or until it's firm enough to spread. Frosting may be made up to 24 hours in advance and stored, covered, in the fridge. You'll need to let it come to room temperature before using.
• Using a long, serrated knife, slice off the domed top of each cake layer so it is smooth and even. Then slice each cake in half horizontally, so that you have 4 even layers. Set all of the cake scraps aside, we'll use those later to decorate!
• Place one cake layer on a large plate or cake stand. Spread 1/2 cup of the frosting on top of the cake, covering it completely. Then top with another cake layer, and repeat the layering process, ending with the last cake layer on top. Spread all remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake.
• Using your hands, crumble up the remaining cake scraps until they're in fine crumbs. Pat the crumbs gently around the sides of the cake. You might have leftovers, which you may discard or enjoy as a snack!
• Allow the cake to set for 20 minutes before slicing. Then serve, or store, in the refrigerator, for up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature before serving!

CHOCOLATE FROSTING FOR DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Beat the butter and mayonnaise in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, on high, until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. With the mixer on low, slowly add the melted chocolate. Continue mixing on low speed until all of the chocolate is incorporated, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Turn off the mixer and add one-third of the sugar. Mix on low to combine, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Repeat until all of the sugar has been incorporated. Add the salt and continue to beat until the frosting is smooth and lightens slightly in color, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Use immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 hours or refrigerate for up to a week. Bring to room temperature before using chilled frosting.

DEVIL'S FOOD CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together cocoa and hot water until smooth. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• Melt butter with sugar in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring to combine. Remove from heat, and pour into a mixing bowl. With an electric mixer on medium-low speed, beat until mixture is cooled, 4 to 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add vanilla, then cocoa mixture, and beat until combined. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the sour cream, and beating until just combined after each.
• Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three- quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool 15 minutes; turn out cupcakes onto racks and let cool completely. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.
• To finish, use a small offset spatula to spread cupcakes with frosting.

DEVILS FOOD DROP COOKIES (WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING)

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
• Beat in egg and vanilla.
• Stir in melted chocolate.
• Sift dry ingredients and add to chocolate mixture alternately with sour cream. Mix well.
• Add nuts if desired.
• Bake 10 minutes at 350 and cool on wire rack. Frost with cream cheese frosting.
• For frosting: Mix together until creamy. Add additional powdered sugar if needed.

BUTTERMILK DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH FRESHLY SQUEEZED ORANGE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• PREHEAT oven to 350F; Generously grease two 9 inch round cake pans with solid vegetable shortening, then dust with flour, shake out the excess flour; Set aside.
• COMBINE the cake mix, cocoa powder, buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl; Blend with an electric mixer until the batter is thick and smooth; Pour into prepared pans.
• BAKE the cake until it springs back when lightly pressed with your finger, approximately 35 minutes; Cool cakes in pans on wire rack for 30 minutes more and then slip both cakes out of the pans into your freezer; (Frozen cakes are much easier to frost.) Now you can prepare the frosting.
• COMBINE cream cheese and butter with your electric mixer on low speed until fluffy, stop the machine; Add the confectioners' sugar; Continue to blend on low until the sugar is well combined; Add the orange juice and zest, Increase the speed and beat until frosting is light and fluffy; Use at once to frost cake.
• STORE frosted cake in fridge.

DEVIL'S FOOD CREAM CHEESE RIBBON CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare cake mix, pour 1/2 of batter in greased and floured 9 x 13 inch pan.
• Blend filling ingredients until smooth and creamy.
• Spread filling over cake batter.
• Pour in remaining cake batter.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
• Cool completely.
• Prepare icing and spread on cooled cake.
• Keep cake in refrigerator.

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH BROWN SUGAR CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Whip cream in a chilled bowl. Beat until stiff peaks, being careful not to make butter!
• In a separate bowl, mix cream cheese, brown sugar, vanilla and salt until combined.
• Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture. Leaving no streaks of the cream cheese mixture.
• Slice each cake round horizontally making 4 layers.
• Place the bottom layer of cake on a cake stand, put 1/4 of frosting on bottom layer, spreading to the edges. It is ok to have it extend over the edges a bit to show on the outside.
• Place the 2nd layer of cake and apply the next 1/4 of frosting, pushing it out to edges. Repeat until all layers of cake are used. Spread the last 1/4 of frosting on top, making it look nice and swirly.
• If you would like more decoration on the top, take a block of chocolate or a Hershey bar and make chocolate shavings with a vegetable peeler. Sprinkle on top.