Devils Food Cake With Fluffy Frosting

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE I

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease and flour one 9x13 inch pan or two 9 inch round pans.
• In a small pan melt the butter or margarine with the unsweetened chocolate. Set aside to cool slightly.
• Cream together the sugar and the eggs until light in color. Add the chocolate mixture to the eggs and temper mixture by beating well (so you don't end up with scrambled eggs!) Add 1 cup boiled water (still warm) and blend well. Mixture will be very liquid.
• Mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add this mixture to the chocolate mixture and blend well.
• Mix together the vinegar and the milk and stir into the chocolate batter. Pour into prepared pan(s).
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cake divides well for filling with mousse, or ganache, or black forest fillings. The best clue to this cake being nearly done is that you will start to smell the aroma of chocolate filling your house!

MOIST DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to upper- and lower-middle positions; heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease three 8-inch pans, line bottom of each pan with parchment paper round, grease agin and flour.
• Combine chocolate and cocoa in medium bowl; pour boiling water over and whisk until smooth.
• Sift together flours, baking soda, and salt onto large bowl and set aside.
• Place butter in bowl of standing mixer and beat at medium-high speed until creamy, about 1 minute.
• Add brown sugar and beat on high until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Stop mixer and scrape down bowl.
• Increase speed to medium-high and add eggs one at a time, beating 30 seconds after each addition.
• Reduce speed to medium; add sour cream and vanilla and beat until combined, about 10 seconds.
• Stop mixer and scrape down bowl.
• With mixer on low, add about one third of flour mixture, followed by about one half of chocolate mixture.
• Repeat, ending with flour mixture; beat until just combined, about 15 seconds.
• Do not overbeat.
• Remove bowl from mixer; scrape bottom and sides of bowl and mix gently to be certain all ingredients are combined.
• Divide batter evenly among cake pans, smooth batter to edges of pan with angled spatula.
• If baking three 8-inch cakes, place two pans on lower-middle rack and one on upper-middle rack.
• Bake until skewer inserted in center comes out clean, 20 to 23 minutes for 8-inch cakes.
• Cool on wire rack 15 to 20 minutes.
• Run knife around pan perimeter to loosen.
• Invert cakes onto large plate; peel off parchment, and reinvert onto lightly greased rack.
• Cool completely before frosting.

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of two greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper., In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla and cooled chocolate. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream and water, beating well after each addition., Transfer batter to prepared pans. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove parchment. Cool completely., For frosting, in a small heavy saucepan, melt butter and chocolate over low heat. Remove from heat; cool 5 minutes. In a large bowl, beat confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add chocolate mixture, beating until light and fluffy. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake.

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH BLACK PEPPER BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Make the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3 8-inch round baking pans, line the bottoms of each with a round of parchment paper and grease the paper. Use a little cocoa powder to coat the insides of the pans, rotating pans so the cocoa comes up the sides, then tap out excess.
• In a small bowl, whisk together cocoa powder and 2/3 cup boiling water. Whisk in milk. In a separate bowl, whisk together cake flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• In a large mixing bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, until incorporated. Beat in vanilla. With the mixer running on low speed, beat in a third of the dry ingredients, followed by half the cocoa mixture. Add remaining portions, alternating between two mixtures. Beat until smooth.
• Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake until the centers of the cakes are firm to the touch, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes; turn them out onto the rack to cool completely. (Peel off parchment paper if it sticks to the cakes.)
• Make the buttercream: Fill a medium pot halfway with water (or use a double-boiler) and bring to a simmer. In a heatproof bowl that fits over pot, whisk together egg whites, sugar and salt. Cook, whisking constantly, until the sugar dissolves and mixture reaches 140 degrees on a candy or instant-read thermometer, about 5 minutes.
• Using an electric mixer, whip until completely cooled and thick, about 5 minutes. Beat in butter a little at a time, until the frosting is smooth and spreadable. Beat in vanilla bean seeds and pepper.
• Using a serrated knife, slice each cake in half horizontally. Place one bottom layer on a large platter or cake stand. Top evenly with a thin layer of buttercream. Repeat, alternating between cake and frosting, ending with a layer of cake. Cover cake loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate while you prepare fudge frosting. (Cake can rest in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.)
• Make the frosting: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, heavy cream and salt. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar completely dissolves, about 5 minutes. Scrape mixture into a bowl. Stir in chocolate, butter and vanilla until smooth. Set bowl over a larger bowl filled with ice. Use a hand mixer or an immersion blender with the whisk attachment to whip until mixture is thick and cool, about 5 minutes. Spread frosting over the top and sides of the cake.

OLD-FASHIONED DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Set a rack at the middle level of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.
• Sift flour, baking soda and salt, once then set aside. With an electric mixer set at medium speed, beat butter until soft and light. Add sugar and continue beating until very light, about 5 minutes. Beat in chocolate, then eggs, 1 at a time. Continue beating until light and smooth.
• Beat in half the sour cream, then half the flour mixture, scraping bowl and beater(s). Repeat with remaining sour cream and flour mixture, scraping again. Combine vanilla and boiling water and gently beat into batter. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for about 45 minutes, until firm and well risen. Cool in pan on rack for 5 minutes, then unmold and cool on a rack. For the frosting, combine all ingredients in bowl of mixer. Whisk to combine then place over a pan of simmering water, gently whisking until mixture is hot and sugar is dissolved. Use electric mixer on medium speed to beat until cooled, but not dry. To finish, cover top and side of cake with frosting, swirling it from the center outward.

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 CAKE II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 (9 inch) pans. In the top of a double boiler, heat chocolate, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool to lukewarm. Sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat shortening until smooth. Add flour mixture, 1 cup of the milk and vanilla. Mix on low speed until flour is dampened, then beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs, remaining 1/3 cup milk and melted chocolate. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Pour batter into prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.

EASY DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• For food cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Whisk first 5 ingredients in large bowl to blend. Sift in flour, cocoa and baking soda. Stir to combine. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake until toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in pans on racks 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto racks and cool completely. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Wrap cakes separately in plastic wrap and store at room temperature.)
• Place 1 cake layer on plate. Spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with second cake layer. Spread top and sides of cake with remaining frosting. (Can be prepared up to 8 hours ahead. Cover with cake dome and let stand at room temperature.)
• For Frosting:
• Melt unsalted butter and chocolate in heavy small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Transfer to large bowl. Whisk in cocoa powder and vanilla. Whisk in 1 cup sugar and 1/3 cup sour cream. Whisk in remaining 1 cup sugar. Gradually whisk in enough of remaining sour cream to form spreadable frosting.

PUDDING-FILLED DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with water, beating well after each addition., Beat egg whites with clean beaters until stiff peaks form; fold into batter. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack., For pudding, in a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, flour and salt. Stir in milk until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat to low; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat., Stir a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Stir in chocolate until smooth. Stir in butter and vanilla. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Spread over cake., In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, egg whites, water, corn syrup, cream of tartar and salt over low heat. With a hand mixer, beat on low speed for 1 minute. Continue beating on low over low heat until frosting reaches 160°, about 8-10 minutes., Pour into a large bowl; add vanilla. Beat on high until stiff peaks form, about 7 minutes. Spread over cake. Store in the refrigerator.

MAGNOLIA BAKERY'S DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH FLUFFY COCONUT ICING

Steps:

• Make Cake: Grease and flour three 9x2" round cake pans and line bottoms with waxed paper; set aside.
• Sift dry ingredients and set aside.
• Using medium speed of mixer, cream butter until smooth.
• Add sugar and beat until fluffy for 3 minutes.
• In separate bowl, beat egg yolks until thick and lemon colored for 2 minutes.
• Add beaten yolks to butter mix and beat well.
• Add chocolate, mixing well.
• Add dry ingredients in thirds, alternating with milk and vanilla.
• With each addition, beat until well mixed, but do not overbeat.
• Using a spatula, scrape down bowl, making sure ingredients are well blended and batter is smooth.
• In separate bowl, beat egg whites on high to soft peaks.
• Gently fold into batter.
• Divide batter into pans and bake at 350º for 30 to 35 minutes.
• Cool in pans 10 minutes.
• Remove from pans and cool completely on wire rack.
• Make Icing: Combine egg whites, sugar, water, corn syrup, salt in top of double boiler.
• Place over rapidly boiling water.
• Using high speed, beat constantly 6 to 8 minutes, or until icing stands in soft peaks.
• Remove from heat, add vanilla and beat 1 minute, or until icing has desired spreading consistency.
• Use immediately.
• On cooled cake, ice between layers, then ice top and sides of cake with seven minute icing.
• Sprinkle top and sides generously with coconut.