Valerie Bertinelli Vanilla Love Cake Food

STRAWBERRY LOVE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• Prepare the cake according to the directions on the box and pour it into the prepared pan. Set aside.
• Combine the ricotta, sugar, vanilla, eggs and 4 ounces (1/2 cup) of the mascarpone in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Gently scoop the filling onto the cake batter and cover it completely.
• Bake until a skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean and the strawberry layer has risen to the top, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool completely on a rack.
• Combine the remaining 12 ounces mascarpone with the pudding mix and milk in a clean bowl in the stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on low speed until incorporated. Increase the speed to medium and beat until smooth and creamy. Spread the frosting evenly over the cake. Serve.

LEMON LOVE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with butter and dust with flour.
• Prepare the cake mix according to package directions, then add 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and set aside.
• Beat the ricotta, lemon zest and 4 ounces of the mascarpone with an electric mixer on medium-low speed until smooth. Add the sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until just combined. Gently spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the cake batter.
• Bake until the cake layer has risen to the top (the ricotta and cake layers switch places) and a wooden pick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat the remaining 12 ounces mascarpone with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add the milk, beating until smooth. Add the pudding mix and beat until smooth. Let stand until thickened, about 5 minutes. Spread the frosting over the cooled cake.

SICILIAN LOVE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven according to the cake mix directions. Coat a 9-by-13-inch pan with canola oil. Prepare the cake batter according to the cake mix directions, pour into the prepared pan and set aside.
• To make the filling: Combine the ricotta, mascarpone, eggs, sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk until smooth. Gently pour the filling onto the cake pan of chocolate batter so the top is completely white. Bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean and the chocolate layer has risen to the top, about 40 minutes. Let the cake cool completely.
• To make the frosting: Just before serving, blend together the mascarpone, milk, chocolate pudding mix and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer until smooth. Using an offset spatula, spread the frosting evenly over the cake and serve.

CHOCOLATE-MINT LOVE CAKE WITH MINT GANACHE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with canola spray.
• Prepare the boxed cake batter according to the package directions, adding the peppermint extract. Spread evenly in the prepared pan and set aside.
• Combine the ricotta, mascarpone, sugar, eggs and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat until smooth. Gently scoop the filling onto the cake batter and spread so the top is completely white.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 50 to 65 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool 20 minutes.
• For the ganache: Combine the chocolate chips, cream, corn syrup and peppermint extract in the top of a double boiler. Gently stir the mixture until the chocolate melts and the ganache becomes very smooth.
• Spread the ganache evenly over the cooled cake and let stand 10 minutes to set. Cut the cake into 18 squares.

VANILLA CAKE WITH VANILLA SWISS BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• For the vanilla cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line three 9-inch round cake pans with parchment circles and spray lightly with cooking spray.
• Combine the butter, oil and 2 cups sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl between each egg. Beat in 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste until incorporated.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add a third of the dry ingredients to the mixer and beat on low speed. Add half of the buttermilk and beat until just incorporated. Alternate dry and wet ingredients, ending with the dry and scraping down the bowl as needed until the batter is smooth.
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cake pans and bake until the cakes are lightly golden and the centers spring back to the touch, about 30 minutes. Let the cakes cool in their pans for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, to make the cake syrup, combine the remaining 1 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste with 1 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.
• For the vanilla Swiss buttercream: Bring a medium saucepan filled with 2 inches of water to a simmer. Whisk together the egg whites and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and set the bowl over the simmering pot. Continue whisking until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture feels hot to the touch, 1 to 2 minutes. Wipe the condensation from the bottom of the bowl and attach it to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat the egg white mixture on medium-high speed until the whites are glossy and the underside of the bowl is no longer warm, about 5 minutes. With the mixer running, begin adding a few chunks of butter at a time. Continue to add all the butter in this way until the buttercream is smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the vanilla bean paste and salt.
• For the assembly: Trim the tops of the cakes, if necessary. Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of each layer of cake with the cake syrup, allowing it to soak in slightly. Add about 1 1/2 cups of buttercream to the top of the first cake and smooth it into an even layer with an offset spatula. Place the second cake on top of the first and add another layer of buttercream. Place the last cake on top and frost just the top with the remaining buttercream. Arrange some of the blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries decoratively around the top edge of the cake. Serve with the remaining berries on the side.

CHOCOLATE MARBLE LOVE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
• Prepare the cake batter according to the package directions. Spoon evenly into the prepared pan and set aside.
• Combine the ricotta, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, eggs and 4 ounces of the mascarpone in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat until smooth. Gently scoop the filling onto the cake batter and spread, so the top is completely covered. Bake until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean and the vanilla cake layer has risen to the top, 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack.
• Combine the instant pudding, milk and the remaining 12 ounces mascarpone in a stand mixer and beat until thick and smooth. Spread the frosting evenly over the entire cake. Use a peeler to shave chocolate curls to garnish the cake.