Indulgent Sour Cream Ganache Food

SOUR CREAM GANACHE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate chips into a glass or metal bowl, and set over the top of a pan of barely simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and transfer the chocolate to a medium bowl.
• Add the sour cream and vanilla; beat with an electric mixture until smooth and creamy. If you let it cool down too much it will set up, so frost your cake while it is still liquid, or reheat before using.

INDULGENT SOUR CREAM GANACHE

Steps:

• Melt the chocolate over a double boiler (over hot water). You could also use the microwave - do take the container out every 10 seconds and stir, until it has melted.
• Remove the chocolate from the heat, and while it is still warm add the sour cream.
• Stir gently yet swiftly with a rubber/silicone spatula until the mixture is uniform in colour.
• If the bowl is still warm, transfer it to another bowl.
• Serving: You can use it immediately. If you wish to use it later, store it in an airtight container and when cool keep it in the fridge. When you're ready to use it, heat in the microwave for a few seconds, and stir in gently, or place the bowl in a warm water bath.

NORWEGIAN GOLD CAKE (OR CUPCAKES) WITH SOUR CREAM GANACHE

Steps:

• Have all ingredients at room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to 325° F for cake or 375° F for cupcakes. Grease the bottom of a 10-inch tube or bundt pan, or line two cupcake pans with a total of 20 paper liners.
• In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, beat butter and sifted flour together for five minutes on medium speed.
• Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition to incorporate.
• Add sugar, baking powder, salt, and vanilla and almond extracts. Beat for two minutes more.
• Scoop batter into pan(s). For a cake, bake for about 55 minutes, until golden and beginning to pull away slightly from the sides of the pan. (Start checking at 50 minutes). For cupcakes, bake for 20-25 minutes.
• Cool in pan for 10 minutes and then completely on a rack before frosting.
• When ready to frost cake or cupcakes, heat chocolate in a double-boiler or in the microwave in bursts until just melted.
• Stir until smooth, then stir in sour cream and salt.
• If you would like to pour the icing over a bundt cake rather than spreading it, you can stir in some milk a few tablespoons at a time until it reaches the consistency you like.
• Spread onto completely cooled cake or cupcakes and top with sprinkles or other decorations if you like. Frosting will set over time.

CHOCOLATE STOUT CAKE

Steps:

• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line with parchment paper. Butter paper. Bring 2 cups stout and 2 cups butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.
• Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in large bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend. Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer cakes to rack; cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack and cool completely.
• For icing:
• Bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chopped chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Refrigerate until icing is spreadable, stirring frequently, about 2 hours.
• Place 1 cake layer on plate. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with second cake layer. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining icing over top and sides of cake.