Raspberry Dark Chocolate Teacakes Food

RASPBERRY & DARK CHOCOLATE TEACAKES

Steps:

• First, make the chocolate biscuit bases. Put the butter and icing sugar in a large bowl, mash together with a wooden spoon then beat for 1-2 mins or 2 until smooth. Add the egg yolk, vanilla, milk, flour, cocoa and a pinch of salt, and mix again. Tip onto your work surface and knead briefly until evenly coloured. Wrap in cling film, pat into a disc and chill for 20 mins.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line 2 baking sheets with baking parchment. Dust the surface with a little flour, unwrap the dough and roll to the thickness of a £1 coin. Use a 5cm cookie cutter to stamp out as many discs as you can, then re-roll the trimmings to cut out more - you should get about 35 in total. Place on the baking sheets and bake for 10-12 mins, swapping the trays over halfway through. Cool on a wire rack.
• Next, make the marshmallow filling. Put the gelatine in a bowl of cold water and set aside to soften. Put the egg whites, sugar, 1 tbsp water and a good pinch of salt in a heatproof bowl. Place over a pan of gently simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water, and whisk until thick and leaving a prominent trail from the beaters - this will take about 5 mins. When the meringue is thick, remove the bowl from the heat and continue whisking while you add the gelatine leaves, one at a time. Keep whisking for another 3-5 mins until the meringue has cooled slightly and is really stiff. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large round nozzle (mine was 1.5cm).
• Flip each biscuit over so the bottom is facing upwards. Spoon 1/2 tsp jam onto the middle of each biscuit. Holding the piping bag above the jam, pipe a blob of meringue to fill the surface of the biscuit, quickly pulling away to make a spike. Leave to set for 30 mins.
• Melt the chocolate in the microwave, stirring every 20 secs or so to ensure it doesn't burn. To cover the teacakes in chocolate, hold each one above the bowl at an angle and drizzle over the chocolate, letting it run back into the bowl, turning the teacake until completely covered. Place on a wire rack suspended over a baking tray. After every 5-10 teacakes, sprinkle over a little freeze-dried raspberry, if using. Will keep for 3 days in a sealed container.

CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• For the puree: Place the raspberries in a blender and blend until smooth (yields 1 1/4 cups of puree). Remove 1/4 cup of puree and reserve.
• For the cake: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter and flour the bottom and sides of two 8- or 9-inch round nonstick baking pans. Set aside.
• Place 1 tablespoon of the cake mix and the chocolate chips in a small bowl. Toss until the chocolate chips are coated.
• In a large bowl, combine the remaining cake mix, 1 cup of the raspberry puree, vegetable oil, eggs and 1/4 cup water. Using an electric hand mixer, blend on low speed for 30 seconds. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed. Mix in the chocolate chips. Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Cool the pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and cool completely on a wire rack, about 1 hour.
• For the frosting: In a large bowl, combine the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, butter, cream cheese and sour cream. Using an electric hand mixer, beat on low speed until smooth. Increase the speed to high and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
• In a small bowl, mix together 3/4 cup of the frosting and the reserved 1/4 cup puree until smooth.
• To assemble the cake: Place one cake layer, flat side-up, on a cake stand. Using a spatula, spread the raspberry-chocolate frosting over the cake layer leaving a 1/2-inch border. Place the other cake layer on top. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining chocolate frosting. Decorate with fresh raspberries or chocolate curls. Using a damp knife cut the cake into wedges and serve.
• Cake can be made 1 day in advance. Refrigerate in an airtight plastic container. Allow the cake to stand at room temperature for 1 hour before serving.

CHOCOLATE & RASPBERRY BIRTHDAY LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line two round 20cm springform cake tins with baking parchment. Whisk the oil, sugar, eggs and milk in a bowl until smooth. Sieve the flour, cocoa and bicarb into another large bowl, then gradually mix in the wet ingredients.
• Divide the mixture between the tins and bake for 35-40 mins until the cakes are risen and spring back when pressed. Leave to cool in the tins for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• For the raspberry layer, stir the jam and the defrosted raspberries together. Once the cakes are cool, whip the cream with the sugar to soft peaks, then gently fold half the raspberry mixture through the cream to create a ripple effect.
• Spoon most of the reserved raspberry mixture over one of the cakes, then dollop on half of the cream. Smooth over with a palette knife, then place the other sponge on top. Swirl over the remaining cream and swirl the last of the raspberry mixture through it. Will keep in the fridge for two days.

DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH A RASPBERRY FILLING

Steps:

• Batter: Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease 2 9-inch cake pans, set side.
• In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate, and the tablespoon of butter in the microwave on medium (50%) heat.
• In a large mixing bowl, stir together the stick of butter, the sugar, and the vanilla.
• Stir in the eggs, 1 at a time until they are all incorporated.
• Stir in the chocolate.
• Stir in the salt and oil.
• Stir in 1 1/4 cups of the flour then the 1/2 cup of milk.
• Stir in the last 1 1/4 cup on flour and the baking powder.
• Pour the batter evenly between the 2 cake pans and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Filling: In a small sauce pan, combined all of the ingredients and bring to a boil over medium-high heat; set aside to cool.
• Frosting: In a medium bowl, add all of the ingredients and beat with an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy; set aside.
• Cake: When the cake is done, remove it from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes.
• Loosen the edges with a knife, and turn them out onto a cooling rack(s) to cool completely.
• When the cakes are cool, pour the raspberry filling onto one of the cakes and then top with the other cake.
• Let cake cool for a while, then spread the frosting on the top and sides.
• To garnish you can place raspberries on the top and around then cake.

RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Line the bases of two 23cm cake tins with baking parchment. Melt the chocolate and butter in the microwave; leave to cool. Stir in the vanilla and coffee powder.
• Whizz the almonds in a food processor until finely ground, then add flour and salt, and transfer to a bowl. Whisk the eggs with an electric mixer for 5 mins, until doubled in volume. Slowly add the sugar, whisk for 1 min more. Fold in the cooled chocolate mixture until just combined. Sprinkle over half the flour mixture and fold in, then the other half. The mixture will be rather runny.
• Divide between the two tins and bake for about 15 mins until a skewer comes out with a few crumbs attached - the sponges should be slightly undercooked. Cool in tin, then turn out onto a wire rack.
• Choose the less perfect of the two, then set it on a serving plate. Mash 12 raspberries and stir in the jam. Spread on the base, then top with the other cake.
• For the glaze, bring the cream to the boil, pour it over the chocolate and whisk until smooth. Leave for a few mins until starting to thicken, then spread over the top and sides to cover. Decorate with raspberries. Chill for up to 24 hrs. Remove from fridge 1 hr before serving, dust with icing sugar, and serve with vanilla cream.