Espresso Chocolate Cake Food

GLAZED CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick spray. Line the base and sides with parchment paper.
• For the cake: Cream the butter and brown sugar together in the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until fully incorporated before adding the next and scraping the sides of the bowl after each addition. Mix in the vanilla.
• Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl to combine. Add about half of the flour mixture to the mixer bowl and mix to combine. Scrape the bowl well, then add the buttermilk and mix on low speed to combine. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix on low speed to incorporate.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared cake pan and spread into an even layer. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Cool the cake for 10 minutes in the pan, then unlock and remove the sides of the pan and remove the parchment strips. Cool the cake completely on a cooling rack placed over a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• For the glaze: Put the chocolate and espresso powder in a medium bowl. Heat the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat, then pour the cream over the chocolate. Let sit for 30 seconds, then stir until the mixture is smooth. Transfer to a measuring cup with a pour spout.
• Start by pouring glaze around the edges of the cake, then continue pouring and working towards the center of the cake until it is covered. Let the glaze set for 5 minutes, then gently transfer to a serving platter or cake stand (do not let the glaze set fully on the cooling rack). Once the glaze is set, the cake is ready to serve.

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 AND ESPRESSO LAYER CAKE WITH PEANUT BUTTER ICING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line two 8-inch nonstick cake pans with parchment paper.
• Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. In a second bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, espresso, coconut oil, vanilla and eggs. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add in the wet mixture, whisking until just combined.
• Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Bake on the center rack until puffed, the sides pull away from the edges and an inserted cake tester comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove the cakes from the oven, immediately cover them with clean kitchen towels and press any domed portions down¿careful, it's hot! (This will help make sure that you don't have to level the cakes.) Allow the cakes to cool in their pans to room temperature. When completely cooled, invert onto plates.
• For the icing: Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the cream cheese and butter on medium speed, about 2 minutes. Turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides with a spatula to ensure everything is evenly mixed. Add the peanut butter and mix on medium speed to combine. Again, turn the mixer off. Mix in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, on LOW speed (or else you'll have powdered sugar everywhere!). Add the vanilla and mix once more.
• Transfer the icing to a piping bag. Ice the top of one cake layer, using a circular motion, starting from the outside and gradually moving to the center; do not ice the sides of the cake. Set the second cake layer on top of the first and repeat with the icing; again, do not ice the sides. Drag the back of a spoon in a side-to-side motion across the icing on top to lend a beautifully textured look to the icing.
• Sprinkle the iced cake with the chopped peanuts. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Invert bottom of a 9-inch springform pan (so cake will slide easily onto serving plate) and line with a parchment round; butter parchment. Melt butter and chocolate, stirring until smooth, in a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water.
• Beat together egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until thick and pale, about 3 minutes. Add espresso powder and salt; beat until combined, about 1 minute. Add vanilla and melted-chocolate mixture; beat about 1 minute more.
• In another bowl, beat egg whites on medium-high speed until foamy. Increase speed to high; gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, beating until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Fold into chocolate mixture in 3 batches. Transfer batter to pan and bake until set, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cake cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Remove side of pan; transfer cake to a serving plate. Serve glaze alongside cake.

CREPE CAKE WITH ESPRESSO CHOCOLATE GLAZE

Steps:

• Combine all crepe ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
• Allow batter to rest in the refrigerator at least half an hour.
• In a small bowl, dissolve espresso powder in water. (If you don't dissolve the espresso powder, the glaze will be grainy).
• In a medium saucepan, melt chocolate over medium-low heat.
• Add remaining ingredients and whisk thoroughly until smooth.
• Heat until just boiling, then remove from heat and scrape glaze into a bowl. Refrigerate until batter has finished resting.
• Bring an 8" non-stick pan to medium heat (allow about 3 minutes for heat-up time).
• Spray pan with cooking spray. Pour in a few tablespoons of batter and quickly tilt the pan so that the batter covers the bottom of the pan in a very thin layer.
• Cook crepe until edges barely start to peel away from pan.
• Gently slide a long metal offset spatula under the crepe and flip it over.
• Cook crepe just another minute and slide onto a plate.
• Spread crepe with a thin layer of glaze.
• Cook another crepe, stack on top of the first, and spread with a bit of butter.
• Cook another crepe, add to the stack, and sprinkle with powdered sugar using a sifter or strainer.
• Repeat this sequence until batter runs out, leaving top crepe bare.
• Spread remaining glaze over top crepe and allow it to drip down the sides.
• Slice with a sharp knife and serve. The cake will keep in the refrigerator for at least a day.

ESPRESSO, CHOCOLATE & CHILLI CAKE WITH COFFEE CREAM

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease a 22cm springform cake tin with soft butter and line the bottom with baking parchment. Shake a little flour around the buttered edges.
• Melt the chocolate and butter together over a pan of simmering water, or in a microwave. Once melted, whisk together until smooth and add the espresso powder and chillies and chilli powder, if using. Whisk the egg yolks with the brown sugar and caster sugar, either in an electric mixer or with an electric hand whisk, for 5-10 mins until thick and pale. In a separate bowl, using a clean whisk, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until soft rounded peaks form.
• Pour the chocolate mixture onto the beaten yolks and sugar, and gently mix until smooth. Add the almonds and flour and mix again. Spoon the egg whites into the chocolate mixture and gently fold together. Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 40-45 mins until the cake is set but with a slight jiggle in the centre. (If the cake is starting to brown too quickly, cover with a piece of baking parchment.)
• Leave to cool in the tin - it will sink a little as it cools. Run a knife around the inside of the cake tin to loosen. Remove the baking parchment and place on a cake stand. Whisk the cream and espresso powder until soft peaks form. Serve on the side or spoon on top of the cake dusted with a little cocoa powder.