Sparkling Chocolate Truffle Champagne Cake Recipe 415 Food

CHAMPAGNE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Using a ladle, fill 2 cork molds with chocolate. When they are full, empty the excess back into the bowl of chocolate. The inside of the molds should be evenly coated with chocolate. Wipe the lip of the molds clean and place them upside down on a wire rack over a baking sheet to drain. Once the chocolate starts to harden, about 5 minutes, use a wide pastry scraper to clean the edges of each cavity clean. This is important because when the chocolate sets, it shrinks or retracts from the sides of the mold. A clean edge will keep it from sticking and cracking as it shrinks. You can place the mold in the refrigerator for several minutes to help the chocolate to harden.
• Place the champagne and cream into a small saucepan and heat the mixture to a boil. Pour the hot champagne mixture over the chopped chocolate and corn syrup and blend until smooth with an immersion hand blender. Add the marc du champagne and the butter and blend until smooth with an immersion hand blender. Allow the mixture to cool until it has a thick consistency (thick enough to pipe). Place the mixture in a piping bag and pipe it into the chocolate filled molds. Let set overnight. Close the bottom of one mold by apply chocolate with an offset spatula. Scrape clean then press the two molds together evenly. Allow to set. When the chocolate has set, remove the whole "corks" from the molds.
• How to Temper Chocolate(From Dessert Circus, Extraordinary Desserts You Can Make At Home by Jacques Torres):
• Chocolate is tempered so that after it has been melted, it retains its gloss and hardens again without becoming chalky and white (that happens when the molecules of fat separate and form on top of the chocolate). There are a variety of ways to temper.
• One of the easiest ways to temper chocolate is to chop it into small pieces and then place it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time on high power until most of the chocolate is melted. Be very careful not to overheat it. (The temperature of dark chocolate should be between 88 and 90 degrees F, slightly warmer than your bottom lip. It will retain its shape even when mostly melted. White and milk chocolates melt at a temperature approximately 2 degrees F less because of the amount of lactose they contain.) Any remaining lumps will melt in the chocolate's residual heat. Use an immersion blender or whisk to break up the lumps. Usually, chocolate begins to set, or crystallize, along the side of the bowl. As it sets, mix those crystals into the melted chocolate to temper it. A glass bowl retains heat well and keeps the chocolate tempered longer.
• Another way to temper chocolate is called seeding. In this method, add small pieces of unmelted chocolate to melted chocolate. The amount of unmelted chocolate to be added depends on the temperature of the melted chocolate, but is usually 1/4 of the total amount. It is easiest to use an immersion blender for this, or a whisk.
• The classic way to temper chocolate is called tabliering. Two thirds of the melted chocolate is poured onto a marble or another cold work surface. The chocolate is spread out and worked with a spatula until its temperature is approximately 81 degrees F. At this stage, it is thick and begins to set. This tempered chocolate is then added to the remaining non-tempered chocolate and mixed thoroughly until the mass has a completely uniform temperature. If the temperature is still too high, part of the chocolate is worked further on the cold surface until the correct temperature is reached. This is a lot of work, requires a lot of room, and makes a big mess.
• A simple method of checking tempering, is to apply a small quantity of chocolate to a piece of paper or to the point of a knife. If the chocolate has been correctly tempered, it will harden evenly and show a good gloss within a few minutes.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE

Steps:

• 1. FOR CAKE: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3 9-inch layer cake pans (I use Wilton, they are the best). Cut out circles of wax paper and line bottom of pans. If you have Wilton Bake-Even Cake Strips, use them. If not, you will have to level cakes after they are cooled.
• 2. Combine boiling water and cocoa. Stir until smooth. Set aside in the fridge to cool.
• 3. Cream butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla at high speed of an electric mixer until light and fluffy (about 5 min is perfect).
• 4. In a separate bowl combine flour, soda, baking powder, and salt.
• 5. Alternately add flour.
• 6. Then cocoa mixture beginning and ending with flour.
• 7. Do not overbeat or cake will be tough!
• 8. Pour batter into prepared pans.
• 9. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 or until top springs back. Do not overbake!
• 10. Cool in pans 10 minutes.
• 11. Then flip out onto a large plate and put in the freezer. Don't worry, I know what I am doing. This keeps the cakes from falling apart and won't leave crumbs in your icing.
• 12. GANACHE FILLING: Place the chocolate into a medium bowl.
• 13. Heat the cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil. Watch very carefully because if it boils for a few seconds, it will boil out of the pot.
• 14. When the cream has come to a boil, pour over the chocolate chips.
• 15. Whisk until smooth.
• 16. Stir in the Grand Marnier and the orange zest.
• 17. Transfer hot chocolate to a relatively deep stainless steel bowl and immerse it into a bowl of ice water. Then whip with a hand mixer until it is thick and fluffy.
• 18. Once it is desired consistency, take out of ice bath or it will continue to harden; set aside.
• 19. SATINY CHOCOLATE FROSTING: Combine chips, milk, and butter in a LARGE saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth.
• 20. Remove from heat; blend in powdered sugar.
• 21. Set the pan (or transfer to a mixing bowl) into an ice bath; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer.
• 22. Stop occassionally to scrape down the sides. Mix until frosting is fluffy and holds its shape.
• 23. It should make a peak with a spoon and hold it. Remove from ice bath or it will continue to harden!
• 24. CAKE ASSEMBLY: Remove frozen layers from the freezer and put on a platter lined with wax paper strips to catch the mess. Place the first cake and spoon about half of the ganache.
• 25. Place the next cake on top of the ganache layer.
• 26. Spoon the rest of the ganache on top.
• 27. Place the last cake on top. Frost the top with the satiny chocolate frosting first. Then start on the sides. Smooth top as much as possible with a flat knife dipped in hot water.
• 28. Take your chocolate jimmies (chocolate sprinkles). Gently take your hand and press them into the sides only. Continue until you have gone all he way around. Gently remove the wax paper strips and discard. Put remaining filling into a piping bag and pipe 12 medium size swirls on top of the cake. I used a #21 tip. Space them out before you start piping to make sure you get 12 and they are even. Top each swirl with a Lindt chocolate truffle and a white chocolate truffle, alternating. If the bottom of your cake is messy where you pulled out the paper, you may use the same tip to pipe a border around the base of the cake.
• 29. Chill in the refrigerator immediately. Before serving, let the cake set out at room temperature 30 minutes so the chocolate will soften back up slightly. Enjoy!
• 30. ALTERNATE GARNISH: Pipe a border around top and bottom lip of cake. Take Pirouette creme filled wafers and line them up around the sides of cake. (They do not have to be all the same height). Add M&M's to the middle of the cake . ***Finished Cake #2 in my photo #2 made in (3) 9-inch pans. Serves at least 14, huge cake.

EASTER CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Grease two 20cm cake tins and dust with flour. Tip all the cake ingredients into a large bowl and beat well with an electric hand whisk or wooden spoon to give a smooth, thick batter consistency.
• Divide the mixture between the tins and bake in the oven for 30-35 mins until it springs back to the touch and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tins for about 10 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack.
• Meanwhile, make the truffles. In a bowl, gently melt the milk chocolate in the microwave or over a pan of simmering water. Stir in the butter. Put the biscuits in a sandwich bag and crush them to fine crumbs by bashing with a rolling pin. Mix into the chocolate and chill in the fridge for about 20 mins. When chilled, roll into 11 even-sized balls with your hands. Coat in sprinkles and set aside.
• For the icing, pour the cream into a saucepan and place over a medium heat. Once hot, stir in the butter until melted. Break the chocolate into small pieces, tip into a medium bowl and pour over the hot cream mixture. Stir well until the chocolate melts into the cream. Cool for about 30 mins.
• Once the cake is completely cool, sandwich the two sponges together with the jam in the middle. Spread the top and sides with the icing. Finish by placing the truffles around the outside of the cake.

PINK PROSECCO CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the pink prosecco cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 10-inch round cake pans with nonstick baking spray and line with parchment paper.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
• Combine the butter and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. (Don't skip this step!)
• Add the eggs, one at a time, waiting until each one is completely combined before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla, red food coloring, milk, prosecco and raspberry liqueur. Stir in the flour mixture with a wooden spoon until just combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake until golden and the cake slightly pulls away from the sides, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool the cakes in their pans for 10 minutes, then flip them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• For the chocolate truffle frosting: While the cakes bake, heat the heavy cream in a medium saucepan until bubbles begin to form. Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk in the chocolate chips and salt until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth. Let cool to room temperature.
• To assemble the cake: Place one cake layer on a serving dish or cake stand. Spread the raspberry jam on top of the cake. Put a generous spoonful of the chocolate frosting on top and spread it to the edges. Put the cake in the refrigerator to set. Once set, add the second cake layer and finish frosting the sides and top of the cake with the remaining chocolate frosting. Decorate as desired.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY TRUFFLE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350*F. Grease and flour a 12 cup bundt pan. In medium microwavable bowl, mix filling ingredients. Microwave on High 25 to 35 seconds,stirring every 15 seconds, until melted and smooth; set aside.
• In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat cake mix, water, oil, 1/2 tsp almond extract, the eggs and pudding mix on low speed about 1 minute, scraping bowl constantly. With rubber spatula, fold in cherries. Spoon batter into pan, spreading evenly. Carefully spoon filling in ring over batter, being careful not to let filling touch sides of pan.
• Bake 45 to 50 minutes, or until toothpick inserted 1 inch from inside edge of pan comes out clean and top of cake feels firm to the touch and cake pulls away slightly from side of pan. Cool 15 minutes.
• Invert onto heatproof serving plate. Remove pan and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In a 1 quart saucepan, heat all glaze ingredients except 1 tsp milk over medium low heat, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in up to 1 tsp of milk, if necessary, for glazing consistency. Pour glaze over cake, allowing some to drizzle down sides. Garnish with white chocolate curls and additional cherries if desired. Store loosely covered in the fridge.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F Melt the 8 ounces of chocolate, for the cake, and stir until smooth. You can use a double boiler for this or simply a bowl fitted over a pan containing an inch or two of boiling water - just make sure the water doesn't touch the bowl.
• Remove from the heat and cool for a few minutes. Add the butter, a little bit at a time, and beat with a wire whisk until smooth.
• Add sugar and beat it for about a minute, using the whisk.
• Add eggs and continue beating with the whisk until fully incorporated.
• Butter an 8-inch round cake pan and line with parchment. Pour in the batter and set pan into a slightly larger pan.
• Fill the larger, outer pan with some hot water, about 1 inch deep. Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes (1 hour and 30 minutes tops.depending on your oven.).
• Cool for 1 hour. (Yes, you have to wait!) Cake will fall, don't be alarmed.
• Then refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours. (Yes, you have to wait some more.).
• Prepare the ganache: Boil chocolate and heavy cream together, over medium high heat, stirring to blend. Be careful here so you don't burn the chocolate. Once the chocolate is melted, take off heat immediately and set to cool a bit.
• Refrigerate the ganache until it's of spreadable consistency. This could take about 1 to 2 hours (while your cake is refrigerating). Just be careful that it doesn't sit too long or your ganache will become too hard to spread.

INDIVIDUAL CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKES

Steps:

• TRUFFLES: Combine the chocolate, cream, and butter in a small heatproof bowl, set over simmering water, and let melt.
• When almost melted, remove from the heat and stir the mixture until smooth. Stir in flavoring of your choice and refrigerate until thick enough to mound on a spoon, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Line a baking tray with waxed or parchment paper. Scrape the chocolate mixture into pastry bag fitted with a #3 plain tip. Pipe eight 1-inch mounds onto the prepared tray.
• Place 1 raspberry in center of each chocolate mound and pipe a little more of the chocolate mixture to enclose completely. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
• CAKE: Position a rack in the center of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8 oversize muffin cups with cooking spray. Line bottoms with rounds of waxed paper. Set aside.
• In the top of a double boiler or a small heatproof bowl set over simmering water, melt together the chocolate and butter. Cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, in the large bowl beat on high speed, eggs, egg yolks, and sugar until tripled in volume, about 5 minutes.
• On low speed, add in the chocolate mixture just until combined. Remove the bowl and fold in the flour, using a rubber spatula.
• Spoon a little of the batter into each of the prepared cups top with 1 truffle, and cover with the remaining batter.
• Arrange cups on a baking tray and bake 15 minutes or until edges of the cakes begin to pull away from the sides of the cups. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Invert onto individual dessert plates and carefully peel off paper. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream next to each cake and a few fresh raspberries.

SPARKLING WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CHAMPAGNE-RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Finely chop 12 oz. of the white chocolate and place in large bowl; reserve remaining 4 oz. chocolate for garnish. Place remaining frosting ingredients in medium saucepan; cook over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes or until butter is melted and cream is hot (do not let cream boil). Pour over chocolate; let stand 3 to 4 minutes or until chocolate is soft and melted. Gently whisk until smooth.
• Pour into 13x9-inch baking pan. Refrigerate 2 to 4 hours or until frosting is of spreadable consistency.
• Meanwhile, heat oven to 350°F Spray 2 (9x2-inch) round baking pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottoms with parchment paper. Spray paper with nonstick cooking spray; lightly flour.
• To make cake, melt 1/4 cup butter in small saucepan over low heat or in microwave. Skim foam from top; cover to keep warm.
• In large bowl, whisk together eggs, 1 cup sugar and salt until blended. Set bowl over saucepan of barely simmering water (bowl should not touch water). Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch, whisking constantly. Remove from heat.
• Beat at medium-high speed 5 minutes or until mixture is pale and thick; beat in vanilla. Sift half of flour over egg mixture; gently fold until combined. Sift and fold in remaining flour. Stir about 1 cup of the cake batter into melted butter. Fold mixture back into batter. Divide batter between cake pans.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes. Run small knife around pan edges to loosen; invert onto rack; cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make syrup. Combine 1/2 cup of the Champagne and 1/4 cup sugar in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Boil 2 to 3 minutes or until reduced to 1/2 cup. Place in small bowl; cool to room temperature.
• To make sauce, place remaining 2 cups Champagne in another medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high to high heat; boil until reduced to 1 to 1 1/4 cups, about 10 minutes. Stir in raspberries and 1/4 cup of the jam; reduce heat to low. Simmer 1 minute or until jam is melted and raspberries are thawed. Cool slightly. Place mixture in food processor or blender; process until smooth. Strain through sieve to remove seeds. Cover and store in refrigerator.
• To assemble cake, place one layer on serving platter or cardboard round. Brush with half of the syrup; spread with remaining 1/4 cup of the jam. Spread about 1/2 cup of the frosting over raspberry jam (don't worry if layers blend together). Top with second cake layer. Brush with remaining half syrup; frost top and sides of cake with remaining frosting. Using vegetable peeler, make chocolate curls or shavings. Press curls onto sides of cake. Store in refrigerator; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Serve with raspberry sauce.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook milk, butter and chocolate over low heat until melted. Remove from the heat; let stand for 10 minutes., Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, beat eggs and vanilla; stir in chocolate mixture until smooth. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt; gradually add to chocolate mixture and mix well (batter will be thin). , Transfer to three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For filling, in a small saucepan, melt butter and chocolate. Stir in confectioners' sugar and heavy whipping cream until smooth., For ganache, place chocolate in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Cool, stirring occasionally, until ganache reaches a spreading consistency., Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with half of the filling. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread ganache over top and sides of cake. Store in the refrigerator.