Double Chocolate Raspberry Cake From Reynolds Wrap Food

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 with rack at center
• 2. Grease and flour a 12 C bundt pan or use cooking spray with flour Sprinkle the chopped pecans and chocolate chips in the bottom of the pan
• 3. Place the cake mix, pudding mix, sugar, water, oil and eggs in a mixing bowl and blend on low for 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and blend at medium for 2 minutes more. The batter will be thick.
• 4. Remove 1 1/4 C of batter and place in a small bowl. Stir in the chocolate syrup and the rasberry jam until well incorporated. Set aside.
• 5. Pour the rest of the batter carefully into the bundt pan and smooth it. Pour the raspberry batter on top and use a butter knife to cut it into the batter below. Smooth the top.
• 6. Carefully tap the pan a couple of times on the counter to force any air bubbles to the surface of the batter
• 7. Put the bundt in the oven and bake for 55 to 60 minutes. Test the cake with wooden skewer..should come out clean
• 8. Run a sharp knife around the upper edge and cool for about 10 minutes. Invert on a wire rack, tap the pan, and slide the cake out onto another wire rack. Let cool completely before glazing.
• 9. Make the Glaze:
• 10. Melt the butter in a small sauce pan over low heat.
• 11. Add cocoa powder and heavy cream, whisk until the mixture thickens..do not boil it.
• 12. Turn off the heat and add the powdered sugar and vanilla..keep whisking until the glaze is smoth and shiny.
• 13. Pour over cake, let cool. Then enjoy!

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, oil, and water and beat with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes, until smooth and creamy.
• Using a rubber spatula or spoon, fold the chocolate chips into the cake batter. Divide batter evenly between two cake pans and bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester placed in the center of the cakes comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool in their pans. When cool, turn one cake out, round side down, on a flat serving platter or cake pedestal covered with two pieces of waxed paper, slightly overlapping in the center. To make flat on top, slice the rounded side off both layers before stacking.
• Apply a thin layer of chocolate frosting to the top of the first layer, followed by a layer of raspberry jam. Dot approximately 1/4 cup of fresh raspberries on top of the jam, leaving spaces between berries. Carefully place the second layer of chocolate cake, rounded side up, or if top has been removed, bottom side up, gently aligning the two layers together. With an offset spatula or knife, spread a thin layer of frosting around the sides and top of the cake and add extra frosting until the sides are covered and smooth. Frost the top of the cake until covered and smooth. Finish the top and sides of the cake with the remaining raspberries.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MOUSSE TRUFFLE CAKE, RASPBERRY-CASSIS SAUCE

Steps:

• MAKE THE CHOCOLATE SOUR CREAM CAKE:.
• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Lightly butter the bottom and sides of two 9x2" round cake pans. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper. Dust the sides of the pans with flour and tap out the excess.
• Sift together flour, baking soda and salt onto a piece of waxed paper.
• Place chocolate in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium(50%power)1 minute. Stir. Microwave 1 minute more or until chocolate softens.
• Stir until smooth. Let cool.
• Beat butter and shortening in mixing bowl until creamy, using electric mixer at medium speed.
• Add brown sugar.
• Continuing to beat, gradually add granulated sugar over a 4 minute period.
• Continue beating for another 1-2 minutes or until mixture is a light texture and off-white in color. Beat in vanilla.
• Beat eggs with fork until frothy. At medium speed while continuing to beat, slowly add beaten eggs to batter.
• Add sour cream aand beat until smooth. Beat in melted chocolate until blended. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl with rubber spatula.
• At low speed, beat in flour mixture alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour, mixing until just blended. Mix batter for 10 more seconds.
• Divide batter between prepared pans and smooth top.
• Bake 35-40 minutes or until center springs back when gently pressed with a finger.
• Cool in pans on wire racks for 5 minutes.
• Run a thin-bladed knife around the edges of layers to loosen. Invert the cake layers onto wire racks.
• Peel off the paper circles and leave them loosely attached to the bottom of the cake layers. Reinvert the layers onto other racks so that they are right side up.
• Cool cake layers completely.
• MAKE THE RASPBERRY SYRUP:.
• Combine water and sugar in small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• Raise heat to medium-high and bring syrup to boil. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the raspberry brandy and Grand Marnier.
• Keep syrup covered until ready to assemble the cake.
• MAKE THE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MOUSSE:.
• Put chocolate in food processor fitted with the metal chopping blade. Cover and process 30-45 second or until finely ground.
• Combine frozen raspberries and 1/3 cup sugar in a noncorrosive medium saucepan. Cook over medium-heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves and raspberries soften.
• Press raspberry mixture through a fine meshed sieve into noncorrosive saucepan. Discard seeds. Cook raspberry pureé over medium-high heat until it reduces to 1/3 cup.
• Pour hot pureé over ground chocolate.
• Combine egg yolks, 3 tablespoons sugar and salt in small bowl. Whisk vigorously until well blended.
• Scald 3/4 cup heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. While whisking constantly, temper egg yolk mixture into saucepan of hot cream.(To temper eggs; stir a little of the hot cream into eggs to warm "temper" them. The warmed eggs are then stirred into the remaining hot mixture. Tempering helps to prevent eggs from curdling).
• Continue to cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture starts to thicken. (Do not allow the custard to overcook or the custard will be grainy.).
• With the motor of the food processor running immediately pour the hot custard through the feed tube. Process for 15-25 seconds or until chocolate is completely melted.
• With a spatula, scrape down the side of bowl.
• Add raspberry brandy, Grand Marnier and vanilla. Process briefly until blended.
• Turn chocolate/raspberry mixture into large bowl.
• Whip remaining heavy cream in chilled bowl just until it starts to thicken and barely forms soft peaks, using electric mixer at high speed.(Do not overwhip cream or mousse will be grainy.).
• Using a rubber spatula gently fold one-third of whipped cream into chocolate/raspberry mixture to lighten it. Fold in remaining whipped cream.(Do not OVERFOLD the mousse.) Keep the mousse at room temperature while preparing cake layers.
• ASSEMBLE THE TRUFFLE CAKE:.
• Line the inside of 2 quart round glass bowl with plastic wrap. Remove paper circles from bottoms of cake layers. Using a long serrated knife, slice each cake layer in half horizantally.
• Trim one cake layer into 6-1/4" circle. Generously brush with some of the raspberry soaking syrup. Place the cake circle into the bottom of the prepared bowl. Spoon slightly less than half of the chocolate raspberry mousse over the cake and spread it evenly with a spatula.
• Trim a second cake layer into 7-1/2" circle and generously brush with soaking syrup. Place cake circle on top of the mousse and press it down gently. Cover with remaining mousse.
• Brush a third layer cake with remaining syrup and press it gently on top of the mousse.
• Wrap the bowl in plastic-wrap and chill the truffle cake overnight.(Reserve the leftover cake layer for another use. It may be frozen for up to 1 month.).
• MAKE THE RAPBERRY-CASSIS SAUCE:.
• Combine frozen raspberries, red currant jelly and sugar in noncorrosive medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is completely dissolved and the berries are soft. Do not let mixture boil.
• Strain raspberry mixture a fine-meshed sieve into a bowl. Discard seeds. Pour raspberry pureé back into noncorrosive medium saucepan.
• Put arrowroot in small cup. Slowly stir in water until mixture is smooth. Stir arrowroot paste into raspberry mixture.
• Cook raspberry mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a gentle boil. Continue to boil for 30-60 seconds or until sauce is translucent.
• Do not boil more than 1 minute or the sauce will become watery. Remove pan from heat. Cool sauce to room temperature and stir in Crème de Cassis, to taste. Transfer sauce to a bowl; cover and refrigerate.
• MAKE THE TRUFFLE FROSTING:.
• Put chocolate in food processor fitted with metal chopping blade. Process for 30-45 seconds or until finely ground.
• Heat cream, corn syrup and salt in small saucepan over medium heat to a gentle boil.
• Pour cream mixture over chocolate in food processor. Add vanilla. Let the mixture stand for 30 seconds to melt chocolate. Process briefly until mixture is smooth. Turn into a small bowl and cover surface with plastic wrap.
• Let mixture stand at room temperature for about 1 hour or until stiff enough to frost truffle cake.
• ASSEMBLE THE TRUFFLE CAKE:.
• Remove the plastic from the top of the truffle cake bowl. Invert bowl onto cake plate and remove bowl and plastic wrap from the top of the cake.
• Using a small metal cake spatula, cover the cake with an even layer of truffle frosting.
• Create decorative swirls in the frosting using the back of a soup spoon.
• Lightly dust the cake with cocoa powder.
• Store the truffle cake in refrigerator under a cake dome for up to 4 days.
• TO SERVE:.
• Spoon a pool of raspberry-cassis sauce onto a dessert plate. Lay a slice of cake on top of sauce. Garnish with fresh raspberries.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY TORTE

Steps:

• Prepare cake batter and bake as directed on package for 2 (9-inch) round layers. Cool cakes in pans 10 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Wrap cake layers individually in plastic wrap; freeze 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, beat cream cheese in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Blend in white chocolate. Gently stir in half the COOL WHIP until blended. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Cut cake layers horizontally in half; stack on plate, spreading 2/3 cup cream cheese mixture between each layer.
• Microwave semi-sweet chocolate and remaining COOL WHIP in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min.; stir. Microwave 30 sec. or until chocolate is completely melted; stir until well blended. Spread over torte. Garnish with raspberries.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MOUSSE POPS

Steps:

• Note: Before beginning, you will want to gather the following supplies: silicone heart cake pop mold, toothpicks, red and yellow candy coloring, wax paper, 1 piping bag or large ziplock bag.
• Place a mixing bowl and whisk attachment in the freezer.
• Put the chocolate chips in a heat safe bowl, and microwave in 30 sec intervals at 50% power, stirring between each interval until smooth and fully melted (it won't take long, so be careful to not over heat the chocolate). Stir in the cubed butter until completely combined. Set aside to cool slightly while working on the other mousse components.
• Whisk the egg yolks in a separate bowl until frothy (about 2 min), and then slowly whisk into the chocolate mixture. If the chocolate mixture is very warm still you will have to temper it by adding a little to the eggs and stirring before adding the rest of the eggs to the chocolate mixture (so it doesn't scramble the eggs).
• Add the sugar, vanilla, and cream to the bowl of your mixer and mix slowly starting on low and working your way up to high for about 3-5 minutes, or until stiff peaks just begin to form.
• Gently fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture and transfer to a piping bag. Pipe into each heart cavity, filling to the top, and use a butter knife or icing spatula to scrape off any extra mousse. Insert a popsicle stick, and transfer the molds to the freezer to set (at least 4 hours or overnight). At this time you will also want to place the raspberries in the fridge to thaw overnight.
• To make the raspberry puree, place the thawed raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Cook the berry mixture on medium low for 10-15 minutes, or until the berries begin to break down.
• Pour the berries through a strainer to remove the seeds. Use a spatula to gently press the berries against the strainer to squeeze out all of the juice, and also swipe the spatula along the bottom of the strainer. Transfer the puree to the refrigerator to chill and thicken. Discard the seeds or use them for a homemade jam.
• Once the pops are set you can shape them to give them more of TATA's asymmetric look. Remove the mousse pops carefully from the molds, and place them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Use a sharp knife to carefully trim down the left side of the heart. Return the pops to the freezer while making the ganache.
• Now for the fun part! To make the glaze, place the white chocolate chips in a heat proof bowl and set aside. Place the cream and corn syrup into a second heatproof bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate, and allow it to sit for 1-2 minutes before stirring. Continue to heat the chocolate and cream, in the microwave, in 30-second intervals at 50% power, stirring after each set, until the chocolate is fully melted.
• Stir in the fruit puree. The white chocolate chips have a slightly yellow tint that will make the ganache look purple, so to bring it back to TATA's signature bright red add a little red candy coloring until it begins to look red again. The color will develop as it sits, so add just a little at a time (too much will make the ganache taste bitter). You can also add a tiny bit of yellow to brighten it up, if needed. Transfer to a glass measuring cup and re heat for another 30 seconds, so that the ganache is easily pourable.
• Place the mousse pops on a cooling rack over a rimmed baking sheet, and pour the ganache over them completely covering the tops and sides. Transfer the pops back to the freezer (you can use a toothpick to clean up the edges).
• To make TATA's face, place the yellow and dark cocoa candy melts into 2 separate heat proof bowls, and heat them in the microwave in 30 second intervals at 50% power (stirring between each interval until smooth). Use a toothpick dipped in the yellow melts to draw 6 oval shapes onto wax paper for the mouths, and then dip a toothpick into the dark cocoa melts and draw 3 lines each, for the mouth (right in the middle of the yellow), eyebrows, and 2 small circles for the eyes of each mousse pop. Allow the chocolate to set.
• Just before serving, add the faces (I find it easiest to transfer using a toothpick), and enjoy! The mousse pops can either be eaten right from the freezer, or set out for about 10 minutes for a softer texture. Cover and store any leftover pops in the freezer.
• * Consumption of raw or undercooked eggs may increase the risk of food borne illness.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY RUFFLE CAKE

Steps:

• First of all: these are not typical directions, but you need to know about needed equipment before attempting this cake. Here it is:.
• 8-inch round cake pan, at least 2 inches high.
• 8-inch round cake pan with removable bottom or 8-inch springform pan.
• untreated heavy-duty jelly-roll pans.
• rubber spatula, offset spatula, and flexible 8-inch metal icing spatula.
• decorating turntable, lazy Susan, or inverted round cake pan.
• ridged plastic shelf liner, freezer paper, or 055 Mylar (I used the plastic shelf liner).
• parchment paper and waxed paper.
• MAKING THE CAKE:.
• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven or just below the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F Fit the bottom of an 8-inch round cake pan, one at least 2 inches high, with parchment paper and set aside.
• Pour the clarified butter into a 1-quart bowl and stir in the vanilla extract, if you're using it. The butter must be hot when added to the batter, so either keep the bowl in a skillet of hot water or reheat at the last minute.
• Although the flour and cocoa were sifted before they were measured, they need to be triple-sifted together. Sift or sieve the flour and cocoa together 3 times, then set sifter on a plate or piece of waxed paper and return the dry ingredients to the sifter. Keep close at hand.
• Whisk the eggs and sugar together in a large heatproof bowl or the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer. Set the bowl over direct heat or in a pan of barely simmering water and heat the eggs, whisking constantly, until they are warm to the touch. Remove the bowl from the heat and, working with a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or using a hand-held mixer), beat the eggs at high speed until they are cool, have tripled in volume, and hold a ribbon when the whisk is lifted.
• Sift one third of the dry ingredients over the eggs and, using a large rubber spatula, fold in gently but thoroughly. When the color of the batter is almost uniform, fold in the rest of the flour-cocoa mixture.
• Spoon about 1 cup of the batter into the hot clarified butter add fold together until well blended. Spoon this over the batter and, using the large rubber spatula, gently fold into the batter.
• Spoon the batter into the pan: there's no need to smooth the top or rap the pan on the counter, as is sometimes done with foam-based cakes. Bake the cake for 25-30 minutes, or until top of the cake springs back when pressed gently. Transfer the pan to a rack and let the cake cool in the pan.
• When the cake is completely cool, run a small knife around the sides of the pan to release the cake and unmold onto a rack; invert right side up onto a piece of parchment paper. (The cake can be made ahead to this point, wrapped well, and kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw, still wrapped, at room temperature.).
• PREPARING THE CHOCOLATE:.
• The chocolate is going to be spread and then scraped into ruffles from four baking pans; if you don't have enough pans, you can make the ruffles in 2 batches. Choose heavy-duty jelly-roll pans that are neither warped nor dented, neither nonstick non treated with special coatings. Keep them close at hand.
• Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set in a skillet of barely simmering water, in the top of a double boiler over an inch of simmering water, or in a microwave oven sat at medium power. Stir the chocolate regularly until it is fully melted. Smooth, and 115F to 120F (You can test the temperature with an instant-read thermometer or by putting a drop on your top lip - it should feel warm.).
• Hold the bottom of one of the baking sheets over a burner (either gas or electric) and, moving it back and forth, heat it until it is warm but not hot enough to burn your fingers. Put the baking pan upside down on a flat surface and pour on about 1/3 cup of the chocolate. Use an offset spatula to spread the chocolate thinly and evenly over the bottom of the baking pan: the chocolate will only be about 1/16 inch thick. Refrigerate the pan for at least 30 minutes, or for as long as several hours, depending on your schedule. (It is better to chill the pans for a long time and let them come up to ruffling temperature - in which case they'll stay at temperature longer - than to catch them the moment they turn cool enough to ruffle.) Repeat with rest of the chocolate and the other baking pans.
• MAKING THE RUFFLES:.
• To shape the ruffles, work with one baking pan of chocolate at a time. Remove a pan of chocolate from the refrigerator and leave it at room temperature to warm gradually until it is pliable enough to be scraped.
• Place the baking pan on a counter in front of you, a short side braced against your body. Hold the end of the blade of a then, flexible 8-inch metal icing spatula in your left hand (reverse procedures if left-handed) and, with your right hand, grab the blade close to the handle. You should have 4 to 5 inches of blade exposed and available for ruffling.
• Using the top left corner of the pan as your staring point and imagining that corner of the pan as 12 o'clock, position your left hand in that corner, and your right at 2 o'clock. Press the edge of the blade against the chocolate at a very shallow angle, as if you were going to slide the spatula blade under the chocolate. Now slide the blade forward, moving your right hand down to 5 o'clock and then pivoting the blade to the left, all the way to the edge of the pan. As your right hand is moving down, so is your left, although not as far - your left hand will move down 4 to 5 inches. This is an important point - if you don't move your left hand down, you'll end up with tight curls of chocolate rather than ruffles. As you scrape and ruffle the chocolate against the blade and then make the pivot, the chocolate will gather against the blade -- use your left hand to pinch the chocolate so that the ruffles form a fan and the pinched part is a little handle. You've completed one ruffle.
• As you make each ruffle, place it on a parchment or waxed paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate. When the ruffles harden, you can layer them between sheets of waxed paper. (Store them in a container in the refrigerator; they'll keep for a few days.).
• Make 2 more ruffles across the top of the pan, using the previously Scraped area as your guide -- the left-hand corner of chocolate will be your 12 o'clock point and the cleaned-off section of the pan your edge, or end point. Make the next three ruffles just below; then turn the pan around to get to the chocolate on the bottom and make three more. With practice -- and ruffling takes lots of practice -- you'll get 9 ruffles from each pan. Don't worry if you get fewer at the start.
• If, as sometimes happens, your ruffles crack or you get rolls of chocolate, not ruffles, it might be because the chocolate is too cold -- give it a few more minutes at room temperature before you try again. If the chocolate melts and gets gooey next to the spatula, it's too soft and needs a minute or two more in the refrigerator. When the temperature is just right -- smooth and pliable -- but you still can't get a nicely fanned ruffle, angle the blade differently as you scrape.
• FOR THE SYRUP:.
• Bring the water and sugar to the boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve the sugar, and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool. Add 1/4 cup of the eau-de-vie. Taste the syrup and decide if you'd like a little more of the liqueur; set aside.
• FOR FILLING AND WRAP.
• Beat the creme fraiche with the vanilla extract to soft peaks, then add 2 Tbsp of the sugar, beating until thickened. Taste and add more sugar if you want it, then continue to beat until the cream just begins to stiffen. Cover and keep refrigerated until needed.
• Assembling the Cake -- Cut the cooled genoise into 3 even layers with a long serrated knife. Fit one layer into the bottom of a high-sided 8-inch round cake pan with a removable bottom or an 8-inch springform pan and brush the layer with syrup.
• Place the chopped chocolate in a small bowl and whisk in the boiling water until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth. Switch to a rubber spatula and folds 1/4 cup of the creme fraiche into the chocolate. Fold in another cup of the creme fraiche and then quickly, before it hardens, spread the chocolate creme fraiche evenly over the genoise layer in the pan.
• Moisten the second layer of genoise with syrup and set it, moistened side down, in the pan, pressing gently to level it on the chocolate creme fraiche. Moisten the top of the layer with some of the syrup and top with an even layer of fresh raspberries, leaving just a bit of space between each berry. Keep 1 perfect berry in reserve.
• Beat the remaining creme fraiche until it holds its shape. Spoon 1 to 2 cups of the creme fraiche over the berries and, using an offset spatula, delicately smooth the creme fraiche over and between the berries.
• Moisten the remaining layer of genoise with syrup and set it, moistened side down, into the pan, again pressing lightly to set it in place.
• Chilling the Cake -- Cover the cake and the remaining creme fraiche with plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 to 3 hours, or up to 24 hours.
• Run a knife around the sides of the cake, then release and remove the pan or the ring of the springform pan. Put the cake, still on its pan bottom, on a large piece of parchment paper and set the cake on a decorating turntable, a lazy Susan, or a large inverted cake pan.
• Making the Wrap -- Using ridged plastic shelf liner (available in hardware and housewares stores), freezer paper, or 500 Mylar (from an art supply store), cut a strip 26 inches long and 3/8 inch wider than the height of the finished cake, about 3 inches. Place a larger piece of waxed paper on the counter in front of you --this is your drip sheet -- and put the strip on the waxed paper. (If you're using ridged plastic or Mylar, put the smooth glossy side face up.).
• Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler set over an inch of barely simmering water or in a microwave oven set at medium power, stirring chocolate once or twice until melted and smooth. The chocolate should be between 115F to 120°F Pour the chocolate down the center of the strip, spreading it with an offset spatula across the entire strip and beyond -- let it run over a bit onto the waxed paper. (You can scrape up the chocolate from the waxed paper later and remelt it when you need a dollop of chocolate to finish the cake.).
• Slip the point of a small knife under one edge of the chocolate-coated strip and grab the edges of the strip with your fingers.
• Slide your free hand under the strip and grab the other end. Lift the strip and fit it neatly around the cake, positioning it so that the chocolate side is against the cake. Press one end against the cake and leave the other end standing away from the cake at the point where it would overlap if you pressed it closed. Slip a small piece of waxed paper into this spot, just to hold your place.
• ASSEMBLY AND FINISHING.
• Chilling the Wrapped Cake -- Refrigerate the cake of at least 1 hour, until the chocolate hardens.
• Finishing the Wrapped Cake -- Place the cake on the decorating turntable and spread the remained creme fraiche over the top, spreading it out to the edge of the band.
• Remove the chocolate ruffles from the refrigerator and, beginning at the outside edge, arrange the ruffles in a circle, planting them gently in the creme fraiche and allowing their frilly edges to extend beyond the cake's rim. Continue to arrange the ruffles in slightly overlapping concentric circles until the creme fraiche is covered. Put the reserved perfect raspberry in the center of the cake and chill the cake for about 15 minutes, until firm (or up to 6 hours, if necessary), before removing the plastic and serving.
• To remove the plastic on the chocolate band, discard the waxed paper "place keeper" and peel away an inch of the plastic from the end of the band attached to the cake. Put a dollop of melted chocolate on that end to act as glue and overlap the other end of the band, pressing lightly to seal it. Carefully remove the plastic. If the plastic sticks, put the cake back in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes, then try again.
• To cut the cake, dip a long sharp serrated knife into hot water, wipe it dry, and cut straight down. Since the first piece is often difficult to remove, it's best to make it a generous, easier-to-remove slice.
• Storing -- Although the parts of the cake can be made well in advance, the assembled cake should be served the day it is made.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Make cake layers: Preheat oven to 300°F and grease pans.
• Line bottoms with rounds of wax paper and grease paper.
• Finely chop chocolate and in a bowl combine with hot coffee.
• Let mixture stand, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
• Into a large bowl sift together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• In another large bowl with an electric mixer beat eggs until thickened slightly and lemon colored (about 3 minutes with a standing mixer or 5 minutes with a hand-held mixer).
• Slowly add oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and melted chocolate mixture to eggs, beating until combined well.
• Add sugar mixture and beat on medium speed until just combined well.
• Divide batter between pans and bake in middle of oven until a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes.
• Cool layers completely in pans on racks.
• Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks.
• Carefully remove waxed paper.
• Cake layers may be made 1 day ahead and kept, wrapped well in plastic wrap, at room temperature.
• Make frosting: Finely chop chocolate.
• In a 1 1/2- to 2-quart saucepan bring cream, sugar, and corn syrup to a boil over moderately low heat, whisking until sugar is dissolved.
• Remove pan from heat and add chocolate, whisking until chocolate is melted.
• Cut butter into pieces and add to frosting, whisking until smooth.
• Transfer frosting to a bowl and cool, stirring occasionally, until spreadable (depending on chocolate used, it may be necessary to chill frosting to spreadable consistency).
• Spread frosting between cake layers and over top and sides.
• Cake keeps, covered and chilled, 3 days.
• Bring cake to room temperature before serving.