Double Shot Espresso Ganache Cake Food

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO CHEESECAKE WITH GANACHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• To make the crust:
• Place the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and cinnamon in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until combined. Pour into a 9-inch springform pan. With your hands, press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
• Meanwhile, chop the bittersweet chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Add the espresso and stir until just melted. Set aside until cooled to room temperature.
• To make the filling:
• Cream the cream cheese, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla and almond extracts and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Reduce the speed of the mixer to medium and add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well. Scrape down the bowl and beater, as necessary. With the mixer on low, add the sour cream, and the cooled chocolate mixture. Mix thoroughly and pour into the cooled crust.
• Bake for 1 hour. Turn the oven off and allow the cake to sit in the oven with the door opened wide for 1 1/2 hours. Take the cake out of the oven and allow it to sit at room temperature, until completely cooled.
• For the ganache:
• Finely chop the semisweet chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Add the cream and stir until just melted. Set aside until cooled to room temperature.
• Remove the cake from the springform pan by carefully running a hot knife around the outside of the cake. Leave the cake on the bottom of the springform pan for serving. Drizzle the ganache over the top of the cheesecake.

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Make the devil's food cake: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Butter the bottom and sides o f a 17 1/2 by 11 1/2-inch jelly roll pan and line the bottom with baking parchment or waxed paper. Lightly dust the sides of the pan with flour and tap out the excess.
• In the 4 1/2-quart bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer, place the cake flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and baking powder. Using the paddle attachment, blend the dry ingredients on low speed, until combined.
• Add the butter, one tablespoon at a time and continue to mix until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
• At medium speed, beat in the water, scraping down the side of the bowl as necessary. Continue to beat the batter at medium speed for 2 minutes.
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time, scralling down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula after each addition.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and, using an offset metal cake spatula, smooth it into an even layer.
• Bake the cake for 18 to 22 minutes, until the cake springs back when gently touched in the center.
• Run the tip of a knife around the edges of the pan. Invert the cake on to a wire rack. Carefully peel off the paper and cool the cake completely.
• Make the chocolate espresso whipped garlache:
• In a small cup, stir the espresso powder into the hot water until dissolved; set aside
• Place the chocolate in a medium bowl: set aside.
• In a small, heavy saucepan, combine the heavy cream and espresso mixture. Bring to a gentle boil.
• Remove from heat and pour the mixture over the chocolate. Allow the mixt ure to stand for 1 minute to melt the chocolate. Gently whisk until smooth.
• Cover the bowl and refrigerate the ganache for 2 hours, until chilled and slightly thickened.
• Using a hand-held electric mixer, beat the ganache just until lightened in color, about 30 seconds. Do not overbeat the ganache or it will become grainy.
• Assemble the cakes: Using eight 3-inch (2 inches in height) metal ring molds, cut out 8 rounds of the devil's food cake. Place the molds on a baking sheet and place a cake round in the bottom of each mold.
• Fill a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip with the whipped ganache. Pipe the ganache on top of each round, filling each mold to the top.
• With a small, offset metal spatula, scrape the top of each mold to the level the ganache. Place the sheet of molds in the freezer for 2 hours.
• Make the glaze: Place the chocolate in a medium bowl.
• In a small saucepan, bring the cream and corn syrup to a gentle boil.
• Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let the mixture stand for 1 minute to melt the chocolate. Gently whisk until smooth.
• Cover the surface of the glaze with plastic wrap and let it stand at room temperature until ready to glaze the cakes.
• Make the chocolate espresso fudge sauce: In a medium saucepan, stir together the cocoa, espresso powder and sugar.
• Slowly whisk in the milk and cream.
• Stir in the corn syrup. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• Raise the heat to medium-high and while continuing to stir, bring the mixture to a boil.
• Remove the pan from the heat and add the chocolate. Let the mixture stand for 30 seconds to melt the chocolate. Whisk until smooth.
• Stir in the butter and vanilla.
• Unmold and glaze the cakes: Remove the molds from the freezer.
• Gently heat the side of each mold using a portable hair dryer or a hot, damp towel. Carefully slide off each mold.
• Place the cakes on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 15 minutes.
• Remove the plastic wrap from the glaze and gently whisk until smooth.
• Remove the desserts from the freezer and pour the glaze over each cake to coat it completely.
• Place a spoonful of chocolate espresso fudge sauce on a dessert plate. Place a cake on top of the sauce; garnish with a candied violet, if desired.
• Repeat with the remaining cakes.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE CAKE

Steps:

• Make cake layers:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 3 (7- or 8-inch, 2-inch-deep) round cake pans and line bottoms with rounds of wax or parchment paper. Butter paper and dust pans with flour, knocking out excess.
• Whisk together water, cocoa, and espresso powder until smooth, then whisk in milk and vanilla.
• Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt.
• Beat together butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until fluffy, then add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture and cocoa mixture in batches, beginning and ending with flour and mixing at low speed until just combined.
• Divide batter among pans (about 2 1/3 cups per pan), smoothing tops. Bake in middle of oven until a tester comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes for 7-inch pans or 20 to 25 minutes for 8-inch. Cool in pans on a rack 30 minutes, then invert onto racks, remove paper, and cool completely.
• Make ganache while cakes bake:
• Bring cream to a simmer in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan and remove from heat. Whisk in chocolate until smooth. Transfer ganache to a bowl and chill, covered, stirring occasionally, until thickened but spreadable, about 4 hours. (If ganache becomes too thick, let stand at room temperature until slightly softened.)
• Assemble cake:
• Arrange 1 layer on a cake stand or plate and spread 2/3 cup ganache evenly over it. Top with another cake layer and 2/3 cup ganache, spreading evenly, then third cake layer. (Chill ganache if necessary to keep at a spreadable consistency.) Chill cake until ganache filling is firm, about 1 hour. Keep remaining ganache at a spreadable consistency, chilling when necessary.
• Spread a thin layer of ganache over top and sides of cake to seal in crumbs, then chill 30 minutes. Spread remaining ganache evenly over top and sides of cake.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan., In a large bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, butter, sugar and espresso powder. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of prepared pan., In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, melted chocolate, cocoa, half-and-half and flour until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in the espresso powder and vanilla. Pour into crust. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan., Bake at 350° until center is just set and top appears dull, 60-70 minutes. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan., In a small saucepan, combine liqueur and half-and-half. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat whipping cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until stiff peaks form., Drizzle cheesecake with coffee syrup; garnish with whipped cream, chocolate and coffee beans.