White Chocolate Layer Cake With Apricot Filling And White Chocolate Buttercream Food

BLACK-AND-WHITE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter two 8-inch-round cake pans and dust with cocoa powder, tapping out the excess. Combine the butter, milk and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Transfer to a large bowl, add the cocoa powder and granulated sugar and whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Whisk the eggs and vanilla into the cocoa mixture, then stir in the flour mixture in two additions until just combined (it's OK if there are a few small lumps). Divide the batter between the prepared pans; tap the pans against the counter to remove any air bubbles. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out with a few moist crumbs, about 35 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes in the pans, then run a knife around the edges and invert onto a rack to cool completely.
• Make the frosting: Put the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until smooth; let cool. Beat the butter and salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the melted white chocolate until combined. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until smooth and fluffy; beat in the vanilla. (If the frosting is too soft to spread, chill about 15 minutes.)
• Place one cake layer on a platter and spread with one-third of the frosting. Top with the second cake layer; cover the whole cake with the remaining frosting. Top with shaved white and dark chocolate.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Place the white chocolate (broken into pieces) and hot water in a microwave-safe bowl.
• Melt the white chocolate in 20 second intervals, stirring between each time, until the chocolate is melted. Set aside.
• Separate the eggs, placing the egg yolks in a small bowl to set aside for later and place the egg whites in a mixing bowl. Beat the egg whites until they are frothy and hold stiff peaks. Set the frothed egg whites in the refrigerator for later.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add in the egg yolks and vanilla. Mix well.
• Add in the melted white chocolate and mix well.
• In a small bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking soda.
• Add the flour mixture to the butter/sugar alternately with the buttermilk, beating and scraping the sides of the bowl as needed between each addition.
• Carefully fold in the egg whites and mix just until the egg whites are fully mixed in.
• Grease with shortening and flour two 9" cake pans.
• Divide the cake batter evenly between the two prepared pans.
• Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25-28 minutes or until the center of the cake bounces back when you touch it.
• Allow the cakes to cool for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• **Melt the white chocolate in advance and allow it to come to room temperature. If it is hot when you add it to the whipped butter, it will melt the butter and the texture of the frosting will be off.
• Using a stand mixer, beat the butter for 2 minutes until it is almost white in appearance. Drizzle in the white chocolate, mixing and scraping the bowl as needed as you pour it in.
• Add the powdered sugar and vanilla.
• Beat the frosting for 2-3 minutes until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
• Place one cooled cake layer on a cake plate.
• Frost the top of the cake layer with frosting.
• Place the second cake on top.
• Frost the outside of the cake, both the top and the sides, with the rest of the frosting, smoothing it was you go.
• Decorate the top with additional shaved white chocolate or fresh fruit if desired.
• This cake can be stored at room temperature for 24 hours, then refrigerate any leftovers.

WHITE CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE WITH APRICOT FILLING AND WHITE CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour two 9-inch round cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Butter two 9-inch parchment paper rounds and place in pans, buttered side up. Stir white chocolate in top of double boiler set over barely simmering water until melted and smooth. Leave white chocolate in pot; turn off heat. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk in 3 additions, blending well after each addition. Add warm white chocolate and beat just until blended.
• Divide batter equally between pans, smoothing tops with spatula. Bake cakes until tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 20 minutes (cakes will fall). Run small sharp knife around cake pan sides. Turn cakes out onto cardboard round or tart pan bottom; peel off parchment. Turn cakes right side up onto racks and cool completely.
• For buttercream:
• Stir white chocolate in top of double boiler over barely simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove white chocolate from over water. Let stand until cool but not set, about 20 minutes. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in white chocolate and vanilla, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in powdered sugar. Cover and refrigerate until thick enough to spread, about 45 minutes (frosting will be very soft).
• For assembly:
• Boil 1/2 cup water and sugar in small saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Cool syrup.
• Using serrated knife, cut each cake layer horizontally in half. Place 1 layer, cut side up, on 9-inch cardboard cake round or removable bottom of 9-inch tart pan and brush with 2 tablespoons sugar syrup. Spread 6 tablespoons buttercream over cake. Cover buttercream with single layer of sliced apricots. Spread 3 tablespoons buttercream over apricots; top with second cake layer, cut side up. Brush with 2 tablespoons sugar syrup, 6 tablespoons buttercream, apricots, and 3 tablespoons buttercream. Top with third cake layer, cut side up. Brush with 2 tablespoons syrup. Spread 6 tablespoons buttercream over cake; cover with apricots. Spread 3 tablespoons buttercream over apricots. Top with fourth layer, cut side down. Spread 1 cup buttercream over top and sides of cake (layer will be thin). Chill 1 hour. Spread remaining buttercream over top and sides of cake. Press chopped walnuts onto sides of cake. Cover top with remaining sliced apricots. Brush apricots with apricot preserves. Chill cake 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and keep chilled. Let stand 3 hours at room temperature before serving.)

WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the 2 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• In small saucepan, melt 6 ounces white chocolate and hot water over low heat. Stir until smooth, and allow to cool to room temperature.
• In a large bowl, cream 1 cup butter and 1 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Stir in flour mixture alternately with buttermilk. Mix in melted white chocolate.
• Pour batter into two 9 inch round cake pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
• To make Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine 6 ounces white chocolate, 2 1/2 tablespoons flour and 1 cup milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is very thick. Cool completely.
• In large bowl, cream 1 cup butter, 1 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla; beat until light and fluffy. Gradually add cooled white chocolate mixture. Beat at high speed until it is the consistency of whipped cream. Spread between layers, on top and sides of cake.

CHOCOLATE APRICOT LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 325 degrees.
• Coat two 8 inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray.
• Line bottoms of pans with waxed paper, coat paper with spray.
• CAKE LAYERS: Prepare cake mix following package directions, using egg,water and oil.
• Add in chopped apricots and chopped almonds.
• Divide batter evenly between the 2 pans.
• Bake in 325 degrees, about 45 minutes.
• Let cool in pans for 15 minutes.
• Then turn out layers onto rack, carefully removing waxed paper.
• Let cool completely.
• FROSTING: In small saucepan heat heavy cream over medium- high heat until simmering.
• Place chopped chocolate in medium-size bowl.
• POUR heavy cream over the chocolate and stir it.
• Put in refrigator for at least 45 minutes.
• FILLING AND GARNISH: Place 1 cake layer on dish.
• Spread top layer with apricot preserves.
• Place 2nd cake layer on top of it.
• Frost sides and on top with frosting.
• Put sliced almonds on sides of cake.
• Refrigerate for at least 35 minutes.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat milk and chocolate until melted and combined, cool to room temperature.*
• Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour three 6" cake rounds and line with parchment.
• In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
• Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on med-high until pale and fluffy (approx 3mins). Reduce speed and add eggs one at a time fully incorporating after each addition. Add vanilla.
• Alternate adding flour mixture and milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour (4 additions of flour and 3 of milk). Fully incorporating after each addition.
• Bake for about 40mins or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
• Place cakes on wire rack to cool for 10mins then turn out onto wire rack and cool completely.
• Place egg whites and sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk until combined.**
• Place bowl over a pot with 1-2" of simmering water and stir constantly with a whisk until the mixture is hot and no longer grainy to the touch or reads 160F on a candy thermometer (approx. 3mins)
• Place bowl on your stand mixer and whisk on med-high until the meringue is stiff and cooled (the bowl is no longer warm to the touch (approx. 5-10mins)).
• Switch to paddle attachment. Slowly add cubed butter and mix until smooth.***
• Add melted, cooled white chocolate and whip until smooth.
• Place chopped chocolate and cream in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 5-10 second increments, stirring in between, until smooth and combined. Add a few drops of bright white color gel to get the desired color. Set aside to thicken and cool completely.
• Place one layer of cake on a cake stand or serving plate. Top with 1 cup of buttercream and spread evenly. Repeat with remaining layers and crumb coat the cake. Chill for 20mins.
• Frost and smooth the sides with the remaining frosting. Use a scalloped cake comb to create the textured effect on the sides. Smooth the top. Chill for 30mins until frosting is cold and firm.
• Using a small spoon, place dollops of ganache around the top edges of the chilled cake, allowing some to drip down. Fill in the top of the cake with more ganache and spread evenly with an offset spatula. Chill to set ganache (5 mins).
• Pipe dollops on top using an Ateco or Wilton 1M tip, top each with a Lindt White Chocolate Truffle if desired. Sprinkle chocolate shavings along the bottom and to fill in the top.

WHITE THREE-LAYER BUTTER CAKE WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Grease and lightly flour three 8x1-1/2-inch or 9x1-1/2-inch round baking pans. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Add 1 cup sugar and the vanilla; beat until fluffy. Add the flour mixture alternately with half-and-half to creamed mixture, beating on low to medium speed after each addition just until combined.
• Clean beaters. In another large bowl, beat egg whites on medium to high speed until soft peaks form (tips curl). Gradually add 1 cup sugar and beat on high speed until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight). Gently fold the egg whites, about 1/4 at a time, into creamed mixture. (If necessary, transfer mixture into a larger bowl.).
• Divide mixture into prepared pans. Bake in a 350 degree F oven about 30 minutes for 8-inch rounds and about 25 minutes for 9-inch rounds or until a toothpick inserted near centers comes out clean*. Cool layers in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove the layers from the pans and completely cool on wire racks.
• Frosting: In a heavy saucepan, melt 18 ounces chopped white chocolate baking squares or bars over low heat. Cool until slightly warm. In a large bowl, beat one softened 3-ounce package cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Cut 1-1/2 cups butter into pieces. Add to cream cheese; beat until fluffy. Gradually add cooled chocolate, beating until well blended.
• Frost. Cover and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Makes 16 servings.