Jam Cake With Caramel Chocolate Ganache Food

JAM CAKE WITH CARAMEL CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Center an oven rack and preheat the oven to 325°F.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt, then whisk the mixture to ensure that the ingredients are well distributed.
• In a small bowl, stir together the jam and the buttermilk.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. As you make the batter, stop the mixer frequently and scrape the paddle and the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Blend in the eggs one at a time, adding the next one as soon as the previous one has disappeared into the batter. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk mixture in two parts, beginning and ending with the flour. After each addition, mix until just barely blended and stop and scrape the bowl. Stop the mixer before the last of the flour has been incorporated and complete the blending by hand with a rubber spatula to ensure you do not overbeat the batter.
• Divide the batter evenly into the prepared pans (there will be approximately 1 pound 4 ounces per pan) and smooth the tops. Bake in the middle of the oven until the centers are just barely firm when lightly touched, 32 to 34 minutes. Cool the cakes on a wire rack for 30 minutes before removing them from their pans. Once removed, continue to cool the cakes on the rack, top side up, until they reach room temperature. Leave the parchment paper on until you assemble the cake.
• To assemble the cake, place one of the layers, top side up, on a flat plate or a cake board. Using a thin metal spatula, spread a thin layer of caramel ganache (a bit more than 1/2 cup) on top of the cake and out to the edges of the cake. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of almonds evenly over the ganache. Align the next cake layer, top side up, on top of the first one, and repeat with another thin layer of ganache and almonds. Place the final layer of cake on top of the cake. Frost the top heavily and the sides lightly with the remainder of the ganache. Lightly press the remaining toasted almonds on the sides of cake.
• This cake is best stored and served at room temperature. In an airtight container, it keeps for up to 5 days.

CARAMEL CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Put the chocolate into a small heat-resistant bowl and set aside.
• Put the sugar, water, and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium heat and stir just until the sugar has dissolved. Put down your spoon and let the syrup come to a boil without stirring, occasionally washing down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in water. Cook the syrup until it turns a dark amber color. Swirl the pan to distribute the color and heat.
• Once the syrup reaches the desired color, take the pan off the heat and pour in 1/3 cup of the cream. Do this carefully, as the caramel is very hot and will bubble up when you add the cream. Once the bubbling subsides stir in the rest of the cream 1/3 cup at a time, then stir in the butter a piece at a time. Place the pan back over medium heat and stir to combine all the ingredients. Once the ingredients are all incorporated into the caramel, pour it over the chocolate. Swirl the bowl so that the chocolate is completely coated with the warm caramel, then cover and let sit for 5 minutes. With a whisk, stir the mixture slowly, starting with small circles in the middle and working your way outward, whisking a bit more briskly as you go, until you have a smooth, glossy frosting. Leave the ganache on your kitchen counter, stirring now and then to help it cool, until it reaches spreading consistency, about 3 hours. If it stiffens up too much, simply put it someplace warmer than your counter.
• Covered with plastic wrap at room temperature, this frosting keeps for up to 3 days.

QUICK AND DEEELISH JAM CAKE WITH CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• CAKE:.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Prepare three 8" or two 9" round cake pans.
• Mix the cake mix and cinnamon together.
• Add the buttermilk, applesauce, vegetable oil, eggs, and jam.
• Mix thoroughly.
• Fold in the raisins and nuts.
• Pour batter into pans.
• Bake for 22 to 25 minutes or until they spring back when touched lightly in the middle.
• Cool for 10 minutes in the pan; invert cakes onto wire cooling racks.
• Set aside and prepare frosting.
• FROSTING:.
• Use the butter wrapper to grease the inside of a saucepan.
• Over medium heat melt butter and brown sugar together; bring to a boil.
• Stir and boil for 2 minutes exactly.
• Stir in evaporated milk; bring to boil.
• Remove from heat and add powdered sugar and vanilla.
• Beat until smooth and creamy.
• Not only do I double the recipe, but at the end I put it in a mixing bowl before it cools down and beat it with a mixer. When it starts cooling it will get thicker, so frost cake before it hardens.
• I made seven of these yesterday, wrapped them in plastic wrap after they cooled, put them in cake boxes with a bow and a tag and they made WONDERFUL (and very appreciated) presents for family and friends.
• Enjoy, and please let me know if you enjoy them as much as we do!