Devils Food Squares

CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). In large bowl, mix cake mix, butter, milk and 1 egg with spoon until dry ingredients are moistened. Spread in bottom of ungreased 15x10x1-inch pan. Spread raspberry pie filling over crust.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, beating after each until mixed. On low speed, beat in flour. Pour over pie filling.
• Bake 30 to 38 minutes or until cheesecake filling is set. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In microwavable food-storage plastic bag, place chocolate chips and shortening; seal bag. Microwave on High 15 seconds; squeeze bag. Microwave about 15 seconds longer or until melted; squeeze bag until chocolate is smooth. Cut off tiny corner of bag; squeeze bag to drizzle chocolate over bars. For bars, cut into 8 rows by 6 rows. Refrigerate 30 minutes before serving. Top each bar with 1 fresh raspberry just before serving. Store covered in refrigerator.

PEANUT BUTTER-GANACHE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, mix crust ingredients; press in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 12 minutes. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• In large bowl, mix all filling ingredients except peanuts until smooth and well blended. Stir in peanuts. Spread and pat filling evenly over cooled crust.
• In medium microwavable bowl, microwave ganache ingredients on High 1 minute. Stir with whisk; microwave about 30 seconds longer. Stir again until mixture is smooth. Spread ganache over filling. Let stand at room temperature until set and completely cooled, 2 to 3 hours. Cut into 4 rows by 3 rows.

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!

DEVIL'S FOOD SQUARES

Steps:

• Mix the first 4 ingredients and bring to boiling point, Combine the next two ingredients and pour the hot chocolate mixture over; Add the remaining ingredients; Bake in 9x13 pan at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
• Icing; Bring margarine,cocoa and milk to boiling point over low heat, Add powdered sugar, vanilla and nuts, Ice cake while hot.

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!

EASY CHESS SQUARES

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
• Grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
• In a small bowl, lightly beat 1 of the eggs.
• In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, combine the cake mix, butter, and the beaten egg. Beat on low speed until the butter is blended into the dry cake mix and the egg mixture and the crumbs begin to clump together. Stop mixing and pat the crumbs firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
• In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat until the mixture is light and well blended. Beat in the remaining 3 eggs. Continue beating until very smooth. Beat in the vanilla, if using.
• Pour the cream cheese batter over the first layer and spread to cover evenly.
• Bake the chess squares for 35 to 40 minutes, or until set and lightly browned.
• Cool on a rack and then cover the pan with foil or plastic wrap. Transfer the pan to the refrigerator to chill thoroughly before cutting. They are a little gooier if you cut them while they are still warm.
• This recipe makes about 24 (2-inch) bars. Store the bars in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY BARS

Steps:

• Prehead oven to 350 degrees F, & grease a 15"x10" glass baking dish.
• In large bowl, combine cake mix, egg & butter until crumbly, then press crumb mixture into bottom of baking dish.
• Bake 8-10 minutes or until crust appears puffy & dry, then cool on wire rack.
• When crust is cool, spread jam over crust.
• In microwave or heavy saucepan, melt vanilla chips, then stir until smooth.
• In large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese & milk until smooth.
• Add melted vanilla chips & mix well.
• CAREFULLY spread cream cheese mixture over jam.
• Melt chocolate chips & butter, then stir until smooth.
• Drizzle or pipe over cream cheese layer.
• Refrigerate before cutting into SMALL pieces.