Susans Favorite Mocha Cake Food

SUSAN'S FAVORITE MOCHA CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, sour cream, eggs, liqueur and oil; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips. Transfer to three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans., Bake at 350° for 24-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a microwave, melt the white baking chips, butter and remaining chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Stir in coffee granules and extract. Cool to room temperature., In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup cream; let stand for 1 minute. Heat over low heat, stirring until gelatin is completely dissolved. Stir into chocolate mixture. In a large bowl, beat the remaining 1-1/4 cups cream until soft peaks form. Add to the cooled chocolate mixture; beat until stiff peaks form., For whipped cream, in a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until stiff peaks form., Place bottom cake layer on a serving plate; top with half of the chocolate mixture. Repeat layers. Top with the remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake with whipped cream. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

MOIST MOCHA CAKE

Steps:

• Arrange rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 by 13-inch cake pan with cooking spray and set aside.
• Whisk together flours, cocoa, salt, baking soda and baking powder in a medium bowl, then sift ingredients through a fine mesh strainer.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter and oil. Add eggs and egg whites and whisk to incorporate. Fold in yogurt, vanilla, sugar and dissolved espresso powder. Melt the chocolate in the microwave for 90 seconds or over a double boiler. Fold chocolate into batter.
• Gradually add sifted dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated; do not overbeat. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until cake has risen nicely and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
• While cake is cooling, make the frosting:
• Combine all ingredients in a bowl and beat with an electric hand mixer until soft and creamy. Spread frosting evenly over cake and cut into squares. Finely grate one small square of chocolate. Sprinkle the chocolate shavings over the cake.

AUNT SUSAN'S CARAMEL CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Using electric mixer on medium high speed, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• 2. Add 4 beaten egg yolks and continue beating.
• 3. Sift flour, salt and cocoa together.
• 4. Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk.
• 5. Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk mixture to the creamed mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
• 6. Blend in coffee and vanilla.
• 7. Beat egg whites until stiff, but not dry and fold into batter.
• 8. Pour into three greased and floured 8-inch cake pans.
• 9. Bake in 375° oven for 25 minutes.
• 10. Frost with Caramel Cream Icing between layers, sides and top.
• 11. For caramel cream icing:
• 12. Sift cocoa and confectioner's sugar together.
• 13. In mixer, cream butter and sugar/cocoa mixture together thoroughly.
• 14. Add egg yolk, coffee and vanilla. Beat until soft and fluffy. Frost cake.
• 15. NOTE: There is an uncooked, beaten egg yolk in the frosting. I have always used it and it has never caused a problem, however, if you are concerned, internet research gave suggestions of 1)just leave it out, may change texture and richness of frosting 2)substitute pasteurized egg product and use 1/2 the amount listed for 1 egg 3) pasteurize your own egg yolk by heating the egg, whisking constantly, until it reaches 160º. Done over hot simmering water it won't cook solid but will kill bacteria. 4) use reconstituted powdered egg I HAVE NEVER TRIED ANY OF THESE ALTERNATIVES AND DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FINAL RESULT WOULD BE.

DAREDEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH MOCHA BUTTERCREAM ICING

Steps:

• Pan preparation:
• Generously coat the pan(s) with solid shortening, line with baking parchment or wax paper (for a tube or Bundt pan, cut a paper or foil ring), grease the liner, and dust with sifted cocoa; tap out the excess cocoa.
• Make cake:
• Position rack in center of oven. Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and cocoa. Set aside.
• In the large bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar for 3 to 4 minutes, until very well blended. Scrape down the bowl and beater. Beat in the vanilla and eggs and scrape down the bowl and beater again.
• With the mixer on the lowest speed, alternately add the flour mixture and the buttermilk. Once the ingredients are blended together, increase the speed and whip for about 30 seconds (no longer, because at high altitudes you don't want to incorporate excess air).
• Divide the batter between the two pans or scrape it all into the tube pan. Bake 30 minutes for layers, 38 to 40 minutes for tube cake (or for the time indicated for your altitude in the chart), or until the cake top feels springy to the touch and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan(s) on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Run a knife between the layers and the pan sides to release them, or run the tip of a knife around the pan sides and the top of the tube to loosen the cake. Top each layer, or the tube pan, with a foil-covered cardboard cake disk or flat plate, invert, and give a sharp downward shake to release the cake. Remove the pan and peel off the parchment. Cool completely.
• Make icing:
• In a food processor or the large bowl of an electric mixer, preferably with the paddle attachment, process or beat the butter until soft. Add 2 cups of the sifted sugar and beat until smooth. Scrape down the bowl and blade or beaters. Add the remaining 4 cups sugar, plus cocoa, 5 tablespoons coffee, and vanilla, and process or beat until completely smooth and creamy. Add more sugar or coffee if necessary to bring the icing to spreading consistency. (The icing can be made a day in advance and refrigerated, covered; bring to room temperature and beat until smooth before using.)
• Fill the layers and frost with the buttercream, or dust the tube cake lightly with cocoa or confectioners' sugar (or frost as desired).
• Cooks' Note
• Quantities for the icing remain the same at all altitudes, but if you are baking the cake at high elevation, follow the adjustments below.
• If baking at 3,000 feet:
• Increase flour to 2¼ cups plus 1 tablespoon. Decrease baking soda to 1⅛ teaspoons. Increase salt to ½ teaspoon. All other quantities remain as above. Place rack in center of oven; bake at 375°F: layers for 30-35 minutes, tube cake for 30-32 minutes.
• If baking at 5,000 feet:
• Increase flour to 2⅓ cups. Decrease baking soda to 1 teaspoon. Increase salt to ½ teaspoon. Decrease granulated sugar to 1½ cups minus 1 tablespoon. Increase buttermilk to 1½ cups plus 3 tablespoons. All other quantities remain as above. Place rack in center of oven; bake at 375°F: layers for 30-35 minutes, tube cake for 35-40 minutes.
• If baking at 7,000 feet:
• Increase flour to 2⅓ cups. Decrease baking soda to 1 teaspoon. Increase salt to ½ teaspoon. Decrease granulated sugar to 1½ cups minus 2 tablespoons. Increase buttermilk to 1¾ cups. All other quantities remain as above. Place rack in lower third of oven; bake at 350°F: layers for 30-35 minutes, tube cake for 35-40 minutes.
• If baking at 10,000 feet:
• Increase flour to 2½ cups minus 1 tablespoon. Decrease baking soda to ¾ teaspoon. Increase salt to ½ teaspoon. Decrease granulated sugar to 1½ cups minus 2 tablespoon. Add one additional egg. Increase buttermilk to 1½ cups plus 3 tablespoons. All other quantities remain as above. Rack in lower third of oven; bake at 350°F: layers for 30-33 minutes, tube cake for 40-43 minutes.

MOCHA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Butter and flour three 9-inch cake pans. I highly recommend using cake strips for a more even bake.
• Sift together the dry ingredients (including the sugar) into the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk to combine.
• Add the wet ingredients into a large bowl and whisk together.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.
• Whisk to combine then mix on level 2 for two minutes.
• Distribute batter evenly to the three pans and bake for about 35-40 minutes at 350F or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. I recommend rotating the pans halfway through the bake.
• Allow time to cool for 5 minutes, then invert onto wire racks to cool fully.
• Sift the confectioners' sugar, salt, cocoa and espresso powder into a bowl.
• Whip the butter for about 5 minutes using a paddle attachment (in a standing mixer).
• Beat in the sugar mixture slowly.
• Add vanilla and drizzle in the cream while beating until desired consistency is reached. If the you want the buttercream to have a stronger espresso taste, add as much as you would like!
• Warm the cream and pour over the chocolate. Set aside for a few minutes and whisk together. If there's a few bits of unmelted chocolate just microwave it for 10 seconds on half power and whisk again.
• Pipe buttercream on the first layer, add a swirl of the ganache then a sprinkle of chopped espresso beans.
• Add the second layer on and repeat the process.
• Add third layer on and cover cake with buttercream. Smooth using an offset spatula.
• Drizzle ganache on top of cake, smooth the top and allow to set.
• Pipe dollops of buttercream on the edge using a large closed star tip.
• Top each dollop with a chocolate covered espresso bean.

OAXACAN CHOCOLATE MOCHA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a 9-inch round cake pan with parchment paper. Place a large heatproof mixing bowl over simmering water, or on the top of a double boiler. Stir together chopped chocolate and butter, until melted. Remove from the heat. Place a mixing bowl over warm tap water. Add eggs and beat with an electric mixer, until light in color and tripled in volume, about 3 minutes at medium speed and then high speed for another 5 minutes. Gently fold half of the eggs into the chocolate mixture.
• Then fold in espresso beans. Add the remaining eggs, folding gently, until a few streaks remain. Be careful not to overmix. Pour batter into the cake pan. Place cake pans in a bain marie (water bath). Place in the oven and bake for 5 minutes. Cover the cake pan with aluminum foil and bake, still in the bain marie, and additional 10 minutes. Set aside to cool on a rack for 45 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 6 hours, to overnight. Turn oven down to 350 degrees. On a baking sheet spread pecan halves. Toast until golden, about 10 - 15 minutes. Set aside to cool. To remove cake from pan, place the pan over a low burner for a moment or two. Run a sharp knife around the inside edge to loosen the cake. Invert onto a platter.
• Whisk the crema or creme fraiche with the sugar and vanilla until peaks form. Pile the stiff cream on the chocolate cake. Then, using a spatula, spread it out to the edges to make a thick even layer of cream over the top, being careful not to drip the white cream onto the sides of the cake. Refrigerate for 10 minutes to set. Arrange pecan halves on top of the cream to form a circle around the outside edge. Dip your fingertips or a fork into the melted chocolate and drizzle over the center in a free-form pattern. Refrigerate until serving time. The finished cake can be held overnight.
• In large bowl whisk together cream and buttermilk. Cover and set in a warm place (a gas oven with just the heat from the pilot light for example) for 8 hours. Place in refrigerator. Can be kept for up to a week.

CAFé MOCHA CAKE BY SUSAN

Steps:

• 1. Prepare cake according to package directions, in a greased and floured 9 x 13-inch cake pan. Use the evaporated milk to replace the water, and add in the espresso powder. Bake at 350° for time indicated, usually 24 - 28 minutes. Mine normally takes the full 28 minutes. Cool about 10 minutes in pan; do not remove from pan.
• 2. While cake is cooling, prepare frosting: In a small saucepan, heat together the butter, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and evaporated milk for just a few minutes and stir until well-blended.
• 3. Pour heated mixture over the confectioners' sugar in a large mixing bowl, and beat well, until smooth and well-blended. Pour immediately over warm cake, spreading evenly.
• 4. Allow cake and frosting to cool to room temperature. Slice and serve.
• 5. To make the Cherry Coke cake: Use a 12-oz can of Cherry Coke in place of the evaporated milk (9 ounces in cake + 3 ounces in frosting). Leave out the espresso powder. Bake exactly as above.

SUSAN'S FAVORITE BEEF ENCHILADA RICE

Steps:

• Brown beef in oil and drain.
• Add onions and garlic and saute until fragrant.
• Add remaining ingredients except for rice, parsley and cheese and bring to a full boil.
• Stir in rice and cook 8 minutes, covered, or until liquid is absorbed.
• Sprinkle with parsley and cheese.