Farmhouse Holidays Double Chocolate Praline Fudge Cake Food

DOUBLE FUDGE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 12 by 18 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars on high speed until light, approximately 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla and mix well. Combine the buttermilk, sour cream, and coffee. On low speed, add the flour mixture and the buttermilk mixture alternately in thirds, beginning with the buttermilk mixture and ending with the flour mixture. Mix the batter only until blended.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the center of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool to room temperature before frosting.
• Place the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a bowl set over a pot of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until the chips are completely melted. Off the heat, add the corn syrup and vanilla and allow the chocolate mixture to cool to room temperature. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the chocolate mixture and softened butter on medium speed for a few minutes, until it's thickened.
• Spread the frosting evenly on the cake. Have the children decorate the cake with M&M's.

NEW ORLEANS DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE PRALINE-FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Cake:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine butter, cocoa and water in a saucepan.
• Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat until the mixture is smooth and butter has melted; remove from heat and cool.
• Combine the buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla; beat on medium speed with a mixer until smooth.
• Combine the butter mixture and buttermilk mixture; beat until well blended.
• Combine the sugar, flour and salt in a bowl; mix well.
• Gradually add the flour mixture to the buttermilk mixture; beat until blended.
• The batter should be thin.
• Spray three 8" round cake pans with cooking spray and line them with wax paper.
• Pour the batter evenly into the pans and bake at 350 degrees for 22-24 minutes or until cake tests for doneness.
• Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely.
• To assemble the cake:.
• Spread 1/2 c ganache between the cake layers; spread the remainder on the sides of the cake and chill for 30 minutes.
• Slowly pour the frosting over the center of the cake.
• Spread it to the edges of the cake, allowing some frosting to run down the sides.
• Chocolate Ganache:.
• Microwave the chocolate and cream in a glass bowl for 2-3 minutes, or until the chocolate is melted; whisk until smooth.
• Gradually add the butter, whisking until smooth and melted.
• Cool, whisking often, until spreading consistency, about 15-20 minutes.
• Praline Frosting:.
• Combine the butter, brown sugar and whipping cream in a 2 quart saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring often.
• Boil 1 min; remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla.
• Add the pecans and stir gently for 2-5 minutes, or until the frosting begins to cool and thicken slightly.
• Pour immediately over the cake.

CHOCOLATE PRALINE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350; buttter a 10x15 jelly roll pan; set aside.
• Stir together pecans, brown sugar and 4 T. whipping cream; spread in prepared pan; bake for 20 minutes (coating will be slightly crystallized); stir one time; remove from oven; stir the whole works (should be of "chopped nuts texture/consistence"--will be used for rolling the truffle/chocolate in later on) and cool.
• Microwave the chocolate chips and remaining cream in a large bowl--about 3-4 minutes; whisk several times until smooth (microwave at 15-second intervals to prevent burning); whisk in the butter pieces and the almond liqueur; let stand 20 minutes.
• Beat the chocolate mixture with an electric mixer for 4 minutes or until SOFT PEAKS form (do not overbeat!); cover and chill at least four hours.
• Shape chocolate into one-inch balls, roll in pecan-sugar; cover and chill up to one week (who are we kidding? these will NOT last for one week!) or freeze for up to a month (seriously!?).

SINFUL DOUBLE FUDGE CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH INCREDIBLE ICING

Steps:

• Prepare 2 - 8" round pans, with butter and flour.
• Preheat oven 350.
• Cake: In a mixer, beat first 7 ingredients in order, adding one at a time. Sift the dry ingredients. Fold in boiling water and chocolate chips. (Note: if you add the boiling water and the chips together, they will melt, but if you delay adding the chips for a couple of seconds, they will keep their form).
• Bake for 25 minutes at or until cooked. Remove from pans and let cool on baking racks.
• Incredible Icing: In a food processor, blend butter, sugar and cocoa for 4 seconds. Combine vanilla, milk and hot coffee and blend in just enough liquid until icing is smooth and silky.

RICH SWEET POTATO-CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease two 9" round cake pans.
• At low speed, beat cake mix with eggs, melted butter and 1 cup water for 30 seconds.
• Increase speed to medium; beat 2 minutes.
• Reduce speed to low; beat in cooked mashed sweet potatoes, and chocolate chips.
• Divide batter between pans.
• Bake 25-30 minutes, or until cake test done.
• Cool on rack 15 minutes before removing from pans.
• Frost cake with desired frosting.