Mexican Chocolate Chile Cake Food

CHOCOLATE-CHILE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Prepare a 9-inch spring form pan: Cut a circle of parchment the size of the removable bottom of the pan. Fit the parchment circle into the bottom of the pan. Tear off an 18-inch length of aluminum foil. Center the pan over the sheet of foil and crumple and crimp the foil all around the sides of the pan. (The foil will prevent water from seeping into the pan during baking.) Set the pan aside.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the espresso, brown sugar and the cinnamon sticks to a simmer over very low heat. Simmer until the syrup is very fragrant, about 20 minutes. Stir in the butter until melted, and then stir in the cayenne pepper. Set aside.
• Pulse the chocolate in the food processor until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a deep bowl. Pour in the warm coffee syrup and whisk until the chocolate is completely melted. Whisk in the beaten eggs until completely blended.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Set the pan in a large, deep, oven-proof skillet or a roasting pan and set on the oven rack. Pour in enough water to come halfway up the sides of the pan. Bake until center is set and barely wiggles when you shake the pan gently, 50 to 60 minutes.
• Cool the cake to room temperature. Remove the foil and chill the cake in the pan at least 8 hours. Run a wet knife around the sides of the pan then pop the spring to release. Place a platter on top of the cake and flip over. Remove the bottom of the pan, and peel off the parchment. Serve with cinnamon ice cream and raspberries.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE CHILE CAKE

Steps:

• Place chiles in a bowl with water to cover; let soak until slightly softened, about 15 minutes.
• Place 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate and 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter in top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line a 10-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
• Place chiles in a food processor; process until finely chopped. Add almonds, cocoa powder, flour, and cinnamon; process until almonds are chopped. Add Greek yogurt. Mix chile mixture thoroughly into the bowl of melted chocolate to make the batter.
• Place egg yolks and egg whites into 2 different bowls. Place 3/4 cup sugar into the bowl of egg yolks; mix until fluffy and creamy. Stir carefully into the batter.
• Beat egg whites until foamy using an electric mixer. Add 6 tablespoons sugar gradually, continuing to beat until medium peaks form. Blend meringue carefully into the batter; pour batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cake cool, at least 20 minutes.
• Combine 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and 2 tablespoons butter in a bowl.
• Combine 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream and 2 tablespoons sugar in a saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Pour over the bowl of chocolate; mix thoroughly. Let ganache cool, at least 15 minutes. Spread over the cake.

CHOCOLATE CHILE CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center of the oven.
• Butter two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with circles of parchment or waxed paper.
• Lightly dust the sides of the pans with flour, tapping out the excess.
• For best results, use a mixer with a wire whip attachment.
• Combine the flours, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa and beat on low speed until well mixed.
• In a medium saucepan, cook 1 cup of the water with the chili powder over medium heat until simmering.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Add the softened butter to the dry mixture and beat thoroughly on medium-low speed.
• The mixture should be grainy.
• Raise the speed to medium and gradually add the remaining cup of water and the buttermilk.
• Add the eggs on at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Slowly add the hot water/chile mixture and continue to beat just until well combined--be sure not to overbeat.
• Pour the mixture into the pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centers of the cake comes out clean.
• To cool, set the pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
• Then turn the cakes out onto the rack, remove the paper from the bottom, and immediately reinvert so that the risen tops don't flatten.
• Let sit until completely cool before frosting.
• For the frosting, combine the butter and cocoa in a large saucepan and melt over medium heat.
• Stir in the buttermilk.
• Add the confectioners' sugar a little at a time, stirring with a wired whisk between additions.
• Stir in the bourbon and vanilla.
• The frosting should stiffen as it cools.
• When it has reached a spreadable consistency, assemble the cake.
• If necessary, trim the tops of the cakes so they are level.
• Place one of the cake layers onto a 9-inch round cardboard cake circle.
• Spread 1 cup of the chilled frosting over the cake layer.
• Sprinkle 1 cup of the chopped walnuts over the frosting.
• Place the second layer of the cake onto the frosted base.
• Use the remaining frosting to cover the top and sides of the cake.
• Finish the top of the cake by holding the spatula at a slight angle and making several strokes to smooth the top.
• To decorate the cake, press the remaining walnuts against the lower half of the side of the cake and on top of the cake.

MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the chocolate cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
• Mix the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa, chipotle powder, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl until blended. Add the oil, milk, vanilla and eggs and beat with an electric mixer until thoroughly blended, about 2 minutes.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake until a wooden pick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes. Cool on a rack 10 minutes, then invert the pans to remove the cakes and cool completely.
• For the cream cheese frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until thoroughly combined and smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla and continue to beat until the frosting is very smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Spoon 2 cups of the frosting onto the top of one cake layer and smooth evenly with an offset spatula. Top with the second layer. Spoon just enough frosting on top to make a thin but even coating of frosting on top and all along the sides of the cake; it is okay if this frosting gets messy and full of crumbs. Freeze the cake until the frosting is firm, about 10 minutes.
• Spoon the remaining frosting onto the cake and smooth evenly over the entire cake with the offset spatula. Dust lightly with cocoa powder and serve.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350*F.
• Lightly coat an 8" round cake pan with vegetable cooking spray.
• Combine all cake ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir until smooth.
• Pour into a pan and bake 25 to 30 minutes (until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean).
• Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Remove from pan and cool completely.
• When the cake has cooled whisk together the first three glaze ingredients.
• Dip each strawberry into the glaze and set aside.
• Pour the remaining glaze over the cake and arrange the strawberries on top.
• Set aside to dry- about 30 minutes.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter cake pan well and dust with flour, knocking out excess.
• Melt butter (2 sticks) in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderately low heat, then whisk in cocoa. Add water and whisk until smooth, then remove from heat. Whisk in separately sugar, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla.
• Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt into a bowl, then sift again into cocoa mixture and whisk until just combined (don't worry if there are lumps).
• Pour batter into cake pan and bake until a wooden pick or skewer comes out with a few crumbs adhering, 45 to 55 minutes. (Leave oven on.)
• Cool cake in pan on a rack 20 minutes, then loosen edges with a thin knife and invert onto a plate.
• Make glaze:
• Spread pecans in 1 layer in a shallow baking pan (1 inch deep) and bake until fragrant and a shade darker, 6 to 8 minutes. Cool pecans slightly in pan on a rack, about 5 minutes.
• Melt butter in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over low heat, then stir in half-and-half and confectioners sugar. Add chocolate and cook, stirring, until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in pecans and salt. Cool glaze until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Spoon glaze over top and sides of cake (cake will still be warm) and spread with a small offset spatula or knife to cover completely.

CHOCOLATE CHILE ZUCCHINI CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch cake pan.
• Stir flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda together in a bowl.
• Mix sugar, butter, vegetable oil, and eggs together in a large bowl. Add chile powder and vanilla extract.
• Pour flour mixture into sugar mixture; add buttermilk and stir to combine. Mix zucchini into batter.
• Pour batter into the prepared cake pan; sprinkle chocolate chips and walnuts on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes.

BOCA NEGRA CHOCOLATE CHIPOTLE CAKES

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 325°F. Butter ramekins and dust with sugar, knocking out excess.
• Toast chiles in a dry heavy skillet over moderate heat, turning, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Discard stems, seeds, and ribs, then soak chiles in hot water to cover until softened, about 30 minutes. Drain, reserving soaking liquid. Purée chiles in a mini food processor or a blender, adding 2 to 3 tablespoons soaking liquid as needed to form a paste. Force paste through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and discard solids. Set aside 1 1/2 tablespoons chile paste and freeze remainder for another use.
• Bring juice and 1 cup sugar to a boil in a 1- to 1 1/2-quart saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Pour hot syrup over chocolate in a large bowl, stirring until chocolate is melted. Add butter and stir until melted.
• Add eggs 1 at a time, whisking after each addition, then stir in chile paste, flour, and salt. Divide among ramekins and bake in hot water bath , uncovered, until just firm and top is starting to crust, 50 to 60 minutes. Transfer ramekins with tongs to a work surface and let stand 2 minutes.
• Unmold warm cakes directly onto dessert plates (they will be difficult to move once they adhere).
• *Available at Mexican markets, many supermarkets, and Chile Today-Hot Tamale (800-468-7377).