Salted Caramel Chocolate Fudge Cake Food

SALTED CARAMEL FUDGE

Steps:

• Line a 20 x 20cm cake tin with baking parchment. Tip the sugar, cream, butter and glucose syrup into a large pan. Warm over a low heat to dissolve the sugar and melt the butter, stirring occasionally.
• When the sugar has dissolved, put a sugar thermometer in the mixture, making sure the end is completely covered by the syrup - if it's not, transfer the mixture to a smaller pan that's still large enough for the syrup to bubble. Turn up the heat to medium-high and bring the syrup to the boil, stirring occasionally to stop it catching. When the thermometer reaches 116C - or 'soft ball' stage, remove the pan from the heat.
• Leave the mixture to stand, undisturbed, for 5 mins, until the temperature drops to 110C, then stir in the vanilla bean paste and a good pinch of salt.
• Remove the thermometer, then vigorously beat the mixture with a wooden spoon, checking the temperature every minute or so until it drops again to about 60C. By this time, the mixture will be really thick and have lost its glossy shine. Take the thermometer out and continue beating the mixture for a few more minutes. This part is crucial as it helps create small sugar crystals that give the fudge its smooth, creamy texture.
• Quickly pour the fudge mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the surface using a spatula. Dot the caramel over the top, and swirl it through the fudge using a skewer. Sprinkle with 1 tsp sea salt, then leave to cool overnight at room temperature - don't put it in the fridge, as it will become sticky and won't set properly. Cut into 36 bite-sized pieces. Will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two months.

CHOCOLATE SALTED CARAMEL COOKIE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Oil two 20cm sandwich tins and line the bases with non-stick baking paper. Sieve the flour, cocoa and baking powder into a large bowl, then stir in the sugar. Whisk together the yogurt, milk, coffee and eggs in a jug until combined. Gradually whisk the wet ingredients into the flour mixture until you have a smooth batter. Fold in the chocolate chips.
• Divide the mixture between the tins and bake for 30-35 mins, until a skewer inserted into the centre of each sponge comes out clean. Remove from the tins and put on a wire rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the buttercream. Beat together the butter, icing sugar and cocoa for 5-8 mins until smooth and creamy. Melt the dark chocolate in a bowl over a pan of boiling water, or in 30 second blasts in the microwave. Whisk the melted chocolate into the buttercream until fully incorporated. Put three quarters of it into a piping bag with a large, round nozzle.
• Put one of the sponges onto a plate and pipe buttercream around its edge, with dots going around the circumference. Spread 2 tbsp of the remaining buttercream in the centre of the cake using a spoon or palette knife.
• Mix together the caramel and milk with a pinch of salt. Spread half the caramel into the centre to cover the layer of buttercream. Crumble half of the cookies on top of that. Chill for 30 mins until the buttercream has hardened slightly.
• Lay the second sponge on top of the first. Repeat the piping of the dots around the top of the cake, but this time fill the whole circle with dots of buttercream. Drizzle the salted caramel over the buttercream dots. Break the remaining cookies into halves or quarters and arrange on top of the cake, then grate over a little dark chocolate, if you like.

SALTED CARAMEL-CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• In a bowl whisk 1 cup boiling water 1 cup cocoa.
• In a separate bowl 3/4 cup butter 1 ½ cups brown sugar ½ cup sugar.
• Beat until fluffy add 2 eggs 1 t vanilla.
• Beat in cocoa mixture and add 1 3/4 cup flour 1 1/4 t baking soda 1 1/4 cup buttermilk.
• Beat and pour in 2 8" cake pans greased and line the bottom with parchment paper.
• Bake 25-30 minutes Cool 10 minutes then remove from pan.
• FROSTING Melt 1 cup chocolate chips, cool, set aside.
• In a bowl, stir ½ cup dark brown sugar ½ cup light brown sugar 2 T milk 1 T vanilla, let stand.
• In a separate bowl beat until fluffy 2 cups butter.
• Add Brown sugar mixture and chocolate, gradually beat in 2 cups icing sugar.
• Beat till fluffy 3 minutes.
• Put cake together with 1 cup frosting spreading frosting on sides and top of the cakes.
• Sprinkle with ½ t coarse sea salt.

CARAMEL-FUDGE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare cake batter according to package directions. Stir in 3/4 cup chocolate chips. , Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Immediately poke holes in the cake with a meat fork or skewer. Spread caramel and fudge toppings over cake. Cool on a wire rack., Frost with whipped topping. Sprinkle with toffee bits and remaining chocolate chips. Store in the refrigerator.