Dulce De Leche Ganache Food

BROWN BUTTER CAKE WITH SPICED CHOCOLATE GANACHE AND DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• For the cake: Melt the butter in a large shallow saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter starts to brown and smell nutty, 10 to 12 minutes. Scrape the butter and all the browned bits into a heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over an ice bath to solidify and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease three 8-inch cake pans with the 1 tablespoon butter (or spray with nonstick cooking spray) and then lightly dust with flour.
• Whisk together the 3 3/4 cups flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl until well combined, then set the flour mixture aside.
• When the brown butter has solidified, scrape it into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar and beat on high speed until very light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the bowl and reduce the speed to medium, then add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition and scraping the bottom of the bowl to be sure everything is well mixed.
• Add the sour cream and vanilla and beat just until well mixed, scraping down the bowl again. Add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk, beating just until incorporated. Remove the bowl from the mixer and give the batter a couple of folds with a spatula, scraping the bottom to ensure everything is evenly mixed.
• Divide the batter among the three prepared cake pans and bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with some moist crumbs sticking to it, about 25 minutes. Place the pans on a wire rack until cool enough to handle, then invert them onto the rack and unmold the cakes. Carefully turn the cakes right-side up and let cool completely on the rack.
• For the assembly: Look at your cake layers. If any of them have a dome in the center, cut it off with a serrated knife so the entire top is flat. Place one cake layer on a cake plate or cardboard cake round. Spread vanilla frosting around the outside of one layer and then frost a 1-inch band around the top. Evenly spread half the dulce de leche in the center of the layer until you reach the 1-inch band and then sprinkle with half the sea salt. Add another cake layer and repeat with the frosting and remaining dulce de leche and sea salt. Add the last cake layer and frost the entire cake with a smooth and even layer of frosting. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes until the frosting is set and cold.
• Remove the cake from the refrigerator and place it on a serving plate or cake stand. Using a spoon, create drips with ganache around the outside of the cake from the top edge. Pour the remaining ganache in the center of the cake and spread it with an offset spatula to cover the top. Let the ganache set completely before serving.
• Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Stir together the cream, cinnamon, vanilla and chili powder in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until it just begins to bubble around the edges, then pour it over the chocolate and let sit for about 10 seconds. Stir until smooth and shiny. Let the ganache sit until it has cooled and thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.

DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• For the stovetop method: Remove the label from the can of sweetened condensed milk. Place 3 to 4 forks upside down on the bottom of a large 6- to 8-quart pot. Place the unopened can on top of the forks and cover with water by a few inches. (The forks help to prevent a vacuum between the bottom of the can and the pot.) Place the pot over high heat until it reaches a simmer, then lower the heat to medium-low or low to maintain a steady simmer for about 3 hours. Add more water to the pot if necessary to ensure that the can is submerged at all times. Let the can cool to room temperature in the water before removing. Open the can and scoop out the contents. The dulce de leche should be dark and caramelized.
• For the oven method: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place a shallow baking dish in a roasting pan. Pour the sweetened condensed milk into the baking dish and cover the dish with foil. Transfer the roasting pan to the oven and add enough hot water to reach halfway up the sides of the baking dish. Bake until the dulce de leche is dark and caramelized, 60 to 75 minutes, checking the water level occasionally and adding more if needed. Let cool, then whisk until smooth.
• Transfer the dulce de leche to an airtight container, put plastic wrap directly on the surface and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• Combine the milk, sugar, vanilla bean and seeds in a large, 4-quart saucepan and place over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Once the sugar has dissolved, add the baking soda and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to low and cook uncovered at a bare simmer. Stir occasionally, but do not re-incorporate the foam that appears on the top of the mixture. Continue to cook for 1 hour. Remove the vanilla bean after 1 hour and continue to cook until the mixture is a dark caramel color and has reduced to about 1 cup, approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer. Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to a month.

DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• Slowly cook 6 cups milk, sugar and vanilla bean to a caramel stage. You must constantly stir or it will burn. Deglaze with remaining 4 cups milk and cream, and boil for 1 minute. Cool. When cold add the 1 1/2 cups of raw milk. Strain, chill and pour into an ice cream maker and process for about 7 to 8 minutes.

DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• Scald milk in heavy bottom sauce pan. Add all other ingredients, cook on medium low until it turns into caramel, about 1 hour.

DULCE DE LECHE PIE

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, blend together the graham cracker crumbs and brown sugar. Drizzle in the butter and mix with a fork until the crumbs are evenly moistened. Press the mixture evenly over the bottom and about halfway up the sides of a 9-inch pie dish. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes. Let cool completely before filling.
• For the filling: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Pour the sweetened condensed milk into a shallow baking dish. Cover the pan snugly with aluminum foil. Set the shallow dish in a larger roasting pan and add hot water until it reaches halfway up the side of the baking dish. Bake until a dark caramel color, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Check occasionally to add more water to the pan as needed. The condensed milk will turn a nice brown caramel color. Carefully remove from the oven and let cool completely.
• Whisk out any lumps until smooth and fill the prepared pie crust. Slice the bananas and arrange them on top of the dulce de leche caramel.
• Using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or in a large mixing bowl using a handheld mixer), whip the cream on medium speed until it starts to thicken. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat until the cream holds nice soft peaks. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Grate the chocolate on top of the whipped cream just before serving.

DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• Equipment: Fondue pot; fondue forks or wooden or metal skewers
• Make the Fondue: Remove label from the cans. Stand the cans in a saucepan and add water to cover. (Note: Do NOT open or puncture the can in any way prior to cooking.) Bring the water to a gentle simmer and keep it there for 3 hours, adding water as needed to keep the cans submerged.
• Allow the cans to cool before opening. The milk will have transformed into a smooth, creamy, caramel-colored sauce, dulce de leche! Pour into a warmed fondue pot and serve with assorted dippers and fondue forks.

GANACHE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small pot until hot, then pour over the chocolate. Let sit for a few minutes. Whisk until blended and smooth.

DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• Put the sugar in a large saucepan. Turn the heat to a medium temperature and carefully melt the sugar. Gently tilt the pan as the sugar melts, rather than stirring, as it will adhere to a spoon or spatula.
• When the sugar is melted, add the butter and stir into the sugar. It will bubble, so take care. Next, add the milk a little at a time, stirring continuously.
• Finally, add the can of condensed milk and stir well until it is fully incorporated. Keep stirring as the dulce de leche bubbles and thickens over a medium heat. It will need a further 5-10 mins of cooking. It will turn a darker shade of brown and take on a slight orange-red hue as it darkens. It should be thick enough to leave a clear channel in the pan when a spoon is run through and then add a pinch of salt. It will firm up as it cools. The dulce de leche can be stored in a jar in the fridge and will keep for up to a month. If not storing in a jar ensure it's covered so a skin doesn't form.

DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• Pierce the top of the can with a bottle opener and remove paper from can.
• Cover top of can tightly with aluminum foil.
• Place in a sauce pan, submerge in water to 1" from the top.
• Boil over med-low heat for 4 hours.
• Open lid of can and place contents in a bowl.
• EXCELLENT for dipping apples, pears, crackers and for spreading of bread and great on ice cream!