Mexican Chocolate Ice Cream Cake With Orange Meringue Food

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 12x18 inch pan.
• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda and cinnamon. Add the margarine, oil, water, sour milk, eggs and vanilla, mix until smooth. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.

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.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM CAKE WITH ORANGE MERINGUE

Steps:

• For brownie layer:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Line inside of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 3-inch-high sides with foil. Coat lightly with nonstick spray. Whisk flour and next 3 ingredients in small bowl. Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium low heat. Remove from heat; whisk in cocoa powder, then sugar. If batter is still hot, let cool. Whisk in egg and vanilla, then flour mixture. Spread batter over bottom of pan.
• Bake brownie layer until tester inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 15 to 17 minutes. Cool in pan on rack. Cover and freeze.
• For chocolate-cinnamon ice cream:
• Stir chocolate and 1 1/2 cups half and half in medium saucepan over medium heat until chocolate is melted, stirring often. Remove from heat. Whisk egg yolks and next 3 ingredients in medium bowl. Gradually whisk in hot chocolate mixture; return to saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until mixture leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across and custard registers 170°F to 175°F on candy thermometer, stirring constantly, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Strain custard into another medium bowl. Add remaining 1 1/4 cups half and half. Refrigerate until cold, about 3 hours.
• Process custard in ice cream maker. Transfer to pan; spread evenly over brownie layer. Cover; freeze overnight. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep frozen.
• For orange meringue:
• Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in large bowl until foamy. Add cream of tartar and pinch of salt. Beat until soft peaks form. With mixer running, gradually add sugar. Continue to beat until meringue forms stiff glossy peaks. Beat in orange peel. Spread over ice cream layer. Using spatula or back of spoon, swirl decoratively, forming peaks. Freeze until firm, at least 3 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep frozen.
• Remove cake from freezer. Release pan sides; remove foil. Transfer cake to plate. Using kitchen torch, brown meringue or place under broiler 1 to 2 minutes to brown.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE ORANGE CAPPUCCINO CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease and flour three 9 or 8" round cakes tins.
• Mix together cake mix, dry pudding mixes, 1 Tbsp orange zest, cinnamon, sour cream, coffee, liquor, oil, and eggs using an electric mixer on low, mixing in each ingredient one at a time carefully.
• Once the ingredients are incorporated into a batter, set the mixer onto medium speed and beat 2 minutes.
• Pour batter evenly into the pans and bake 20-25, or until a toothpick tests clean.
• Cool in pans on wire racks for 15 minutes.
• Remove cake from pans and let cool completely, at least 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix purchased frosting with 1 Tbsp orange liquor and 1 tsp orange zest.
• Once cake layers are cooled, set one layer onto a serving platter, spread with half of the marmalade.
• Place second cake layer top side down onto the marmalade.
• Spread with remaining marmalade.
• Top with remaining cake layer, top side up.
• Frost sides and top with frosting.
• Chill at least 1 hour and store leftovers in the fridge.
• Note: If you live at high altitude, add 1/4 cup flour to the dry cake mix.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE MERINGUES

Steps:

• Whisk the egg whites until they are foamy. Add salt and cream of tartar and beat until very stiff. Whisk in vanilla, then sugar, a small amount at a time, until the meringue is shiny and stiff. This should take just about 3 minutes by hand and under a minute by electric mixer.
• Whisk in the cinnamon and grated chocolate. Spoon mounds, about 2 tablespoons, on to an ungreased nonstick baking sheet. Leave plenty of space between the mounds.
• Place in a preheated oven at 300°. Bake for 3 hours or until set.
• Carefully remove from the baking sheet but if the meringues are too moist and soft, return to the oven to firm up and dry out some more. Allow to cool completely.
• Serve the meringues dusted with cinnamon and accompanied by strawberries and chocolate-flavored cream.
• To make the flavored cream simply stir half-melted chocolate pieces into stiffly whipped cream, chill until solid.