White Chocolate Wedding Cake Food

WHITE CHOCOLATE WEDDING CAKE

Steps:

• Grease and line the base and sides of 3 deep, round, 20cm cake tins with baking paper.
• Preheat oven to 160°C.
• Combine the chocolate, butter, sugar and milk in a saucepan over medium heat and stir until melted.
• Transfer the melted chocolate mixture in a large bowl and let cool slightly.
• Use a whisk to stir the orange zest, sifted flours, Grand Marnier and eggs into the chocolate mixture until you get a smooth batter.
• Pour batter into one of the tins and bake for 1 hour and 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
• Cover the cake with foil halfway through baking to prevent over browning.
• Allow cake to cool in tin.
• Repeat the above steps for two more cakes (if cooking two at once you may need to extend the cooking time).
• To make the frosting: Melt the chocolate in a heat proof bowl over simmering water.
• Leave to cool.
• Place half the cream cheese and icing sugar in the small bowl of an electric mixer and beat until just smooth.
• Add the remaining cheese and sugar and beat again until smooth.
• Pour in the melted chocolate and beat until combined.
• Whip the cream until soft peaks form and fold it through cream cheese mixture.
• Cover the mixture and refrigerate for 1-2 hours until firm enough to spread.
• After refrigeration you may need to stir the mixture until smooth before spreading.
• To form wedding cake: Stack the cakes on a serving board or plate, sandwiching them together with about ¼ cup of the frosting each.
• Make sure the last cake is inverted so the base of the cake is on top for a completely flat surface.
• Secure the layers in place by inserting 3 skewers vertically through the cakes.
• Cut skewers down to size so they can be frosted over.
• Cover stacked cakes with remaining frosting.
• To serve: Carefully separate it back into 3 cakes removing the skewers.
• ***This cake can be iced the day before, or on the day, and refrigerated.
• It can be made up to 3 months in advance and frozen. Ice on the day.

WHITE CHOCOLATE WEDDING CAKE

Steps:

• DIRECTIONS:.
• Special Equipment:.
• Wilton 14", 10" & 6" cake pans.
• separator plates & columns.
• base plate or heavy cardboard base.
• 1/4" dowel rods, cut to size.
• pastry bags.
• icing decorator tips in various sizes.
• food paste coloring.
• Bridal cake topper.
• other non-edible decorations as desired.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In small saucepan, melt chopped white chocolate and hot water over low heat. Stir until smooth, and allow to cool to room temperature.
• In a large bowl, cream butter and 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 and vanilla.
• Grease & flour pans. Divide batter into pans according to their volume measurements.
• (either measure volume by pouring water into each cake pan, or it may be marked on bottom of Wilton cake pans).
• Do not fill over 2/3 full.
• Bake 6" cakes for 30 to 35 minutes; bake 10" cakes for 35-40 minutes; bake 14" cakes for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
• You will have to clean and re-use the pans to make the correct number of layers. Cool the cakes about 7-9 minutes in the pans, then remove them from the pans to wire racks. Allow to cool completely before frosting. Continue baking as above.
• When cool, brush crumbs from surface, frost thinly with a layer of buttercream to seal, then start with the 14" layers, placing them on a large serving platter (or foil wrapped heavy cardboard cut to match shape of your cake).
• Secure 14" layer with 5-7 1/4" dowel rods cut to the depth of the two cake layers. Insert the dowel rods in a circle (or match shape of next layer) 2" in from the edge of cake.
• Place a separator plate on top of dowel rods and place the 10" cake layers, frosted with buttercream on plate. Cut 3-5 dowel rods as before to the depth of the 10" cake layers. Stabilize middle layers with dowel rods placed in 5" circle(or match shape of cake).
• Place the 6" layers on a small separator plate, frost with buttercream and decorate layers as desired. Cover lightly with plastic wrap.
• Cake can be transferred at this point by wedging the two bottom layers into a box just larger than the serving platter and deeper than the layers.
• Place top layer in separate cake carrier (it should fit in a Tupperware or Rubbermaid carrier). Refrigerate cake until ready to serve.
• When setting up for reception, assemble separator plate with columns and place on top of second layer to settle the top layer.
• Have extra icing on hand to repair decorations as needed. Place bridal topper on top of cake, and use fresh or silk flowers or other non-edible decorations as desired.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Melt chocolate over hot, not boiling water.
• Cool slightly and add vanilla.
• Cream butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add chocolate.
• Add egg yolks, one at a time, mixing after each addition.
• Sift dry ingredients together and add alternately with buttermilk.
• Stir in pecans and coconut (optional).
• Mix only enough to blend.
• Whip egg whites and second cup of sugar to a soft peak.
• Gently fold whipped egg whites into chocolate mixture.
• Pour into a 9x13 pan or 2 8" round pans.
• Bake at 350~ for 40-45 minutes or until done.
• White Chocolate Icing: In medium saucepan combine melted chocolate and flour (all-purpose).
• Blend in milk, cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick.
• Cool completely.
• In large mixing bowl cream butter, sugar and vanilla.
• Beat until light and fluffy.
• Gradually add completely cooled chocolate mixture.
• Beat until well blend.
• Do not over-mix or it will become soupy.
• Spread between layers, on top and on sides of cake.
• Sprinkle cake with coconut or with anything else that you like.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE FROM DEDE WILSON'S 'THE WEDDING CAKE BOOK'

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°-- I bake at 300° for 20 minutes then increase oven temp to 325° or you could use bake even strips.
• Prepare pans with cooking spray and parchment.
• Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler, stirring frequently-- remove from heat before chocolate is completely melted; stir until chocolate is melted and smooth-- cool to room temperature.
• Meanwhile, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and set aside.
• Place the butter in the bowl of your mixer, and with the flat paddle, cream butter.
• Add the sugar gradually and continue to beat until light and fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes-- scrape down the bowl once or twice and beat in the vanilla.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Scrape in the melted chocolate and beat until the batter is smooth.
• Add the dry ingredients alternately with the milk in 3 separate batches.
• Pour into prepared pans.
• Bake about 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick tests clean or cake just begins to pull away from the sides of the pan-- do not overbake.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH FRESH RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• For cake: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease bottoms of 12-inch, 9-inch and 4-inch round pans and line them with parchment or wax paper. Sift together flour and baking powder. Set aside. Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Set aside. Beat egg whites until stiff, but not dry. Set aside.
• With mixer at low speed, alternately add flour and milk to butter. Beat in vanilla. Gently fold in egg whites and pour into prepared pans. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
• For mousse: Melt white chocolate in double boiler or very carefully in microwave. Cool. Whip cream until soft peaks form. On low speed, pour in cooled, melted white chocolate.
• For buttercream: Cream together shortening and butter. Add vanilla. Gradually add sugar 1 cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides often. Add milk and beat at medium speed.
• To assemble: Spread raspberries over both the 12-inch and 9-inch layers of prepared cake. Top each with raspberries, approximately 1/2-inches apart. Place 9-inch cake layer on top of 12-inch layer. Place 4-inch layer on very top. Decorate with buttercream.
• The recipes for this program, which were provided by contributors and guests who may not be professional chefs, have not been tested in the Food Network's kitchens. Therefore, the Food Network cannot attest to the accuracy of any of the recipes.

VANILLA BEAN BUTTERCREAM, VANILLA BEAN WHITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE AND VANILLA SYRUP FOR WEDDING CAKE

Steps:

• For the buttercream: Combine the sugar and egg whites in a double boiler and heat to 120 degrees F.
• Transfer the egg white mixture to a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Add the lemon juice and salt and beat on high speed until completely cooled, about 15 minutes. Add the butter piece by piece and whip until light fluffy, about 10 minutes. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a round tip and reserve the rest.
• For the vanilla bean white chocolate mousse: Whip the egg yolks on high speed in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment until light and foamy, 3 to 4 minutes. Heat the sugar, vanilla bean paste and water to 120 degrees C in a small pot over medium-high heat. Add the sugar syrup to the whipping yolks and beat until cool, about 15 minutes. Once cooled, fold in the whipped cream.
• Melt the white chocolate over a double boiler until 110 degrees F., about 10 minutes. Add the melted chocolate to the egg and cream mixture and fold to combine. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a round tip and reserve the rest.
• For the vanilla syrup: Combine the vanilla bean paste, sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until the sugar is dissolved. Cool completely.
• To assemble the cake: Split the cake rounds in half to make 4 layers. Brush the top of each with 3 tablespoons of the vanilla syrup. Place 1 round on desired platter and pipe the buttercream around the top edge of the cake to create a dam. Fill the dam with a layer of the white chocolate mousse. Top with a second cake round and repeat piping and filling with the remaining layers, leaving the top undecorated. Place the stack in the freezer until firm, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Remove from the freezer and lightly frost the whole cake with some of the buttercream. Place the cake back in the freezer to firm up, another 30 minutes to 1 hour. Frost and decorate the cake as desired with the remaining buttercream and mousse.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 9-inch-round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper; butter the parchment and dust the pans with flour, tapping out the excess.
• Whisk 3 cups flour, the baking powder and salt in a bowl until combined. Beat 2 sticks butter and the sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to medium; beat in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. (The mixture may look separated at this point.)
• Mix 1/2 cup water with the cream in a liquid measuring cup or bowl. Beat the flour mixture into the butter mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the cream mixture, beginning and ending with flour, until just smooth.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans. Bake until the cakes are lightly golden on top and the centers spring back when pressed, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to racks and let cool 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the pans and turn the cakes out onto the racks to cool completely. Remove the parchment. Trim the tops of the cakes with a long serrated knife to make them level, if desired.

WHITE CHOCOLATE AND LEMON WEDDING CAKE

Steps:

• Lemon Curd
• Make the curd in two separate batches. It's used as a filling between the cake layers and as a component in the mousse.
• Whisk 3 cups sugar and 4 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Gradually whisk in 1 1/2 cups lemon juice, then 18 yolks. Add 1 1/2 cups butter. Cook over medium heat until curd thickens and boils, whisking constantly, about 18 minutes. Transfer curd to medium bowl. Press plastic wrap directly onto surface of curd. Make second batch of curd, using same amount of each ingredient. Refrigerate at least 1 day. (Can be made 7 days ahead. Keep chilled.)
• Frosting
• Make the frosting in two separate batches at least one day ahead. One batch is for the 12-inch cake, one for the other two cakes. Cream replaces butter in this variation of the standard cream cheese frosting, so it's spreadable straight from the fridge. Use heavy whipping cream for the best results.
• Place 8 ounces chocolate in top of double boiler set over barely simmering water. Stir just until chocolate is melted, smooth, and just warm (do not overheat); remove from over water. Using electric mixer, beat 3 packages cream cheese in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in 1 1/4 cups sugar, then warm chocolate. Beat 2 cups cream and 1 1/4 cups sugar in medium bowl until medium-firm peaks form. Fold into cream cheese mixture in 3 additions. Cover; chill. Make second batch of frosting, using same amount of each ingredient. Refrigerate frosting at least 1 day and up to 4 days.
• Lemon-white chocolate mousse:
• Place lemon curd in large bowl and refrigerate. Place white chocolate in top of double boiler set over barely simmering water. Stir just until chocolate is melted, smooth, and just warm (do not overheat); remove from over water. Beat whipping cream in another large bowl until medium-firm peaks form; fold in warm white chocolate. Fold mixture into lemon curd in 3 additions. Cover bowl and chill mousse until cold and set, at least 1 day and up to 4 days.
• Orange buttermilk cake
• Use half of these ingredients to make the 12-inch cake and half to make both the 9- inch and the 6-inch cakes. Sift the flour first, then measure it.
• Position rack just below center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter and flour 12-inch-diameter cake pan with removable bottom and 3-inch-high sides. Butter and flour 9-inch-diameter cake pan with removable bottom and 3-inch-high sides. Butter and flour 6-inch-diameter cake pan with removable bottom and 3-inch-high sides. Sift 5 1/2 cups sifted cake flour, 5 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt 3 times into large bowl. Mix 1 1/2 cups buttermilk, 3 tablespoons orange juice concentrate, and 2 1/2 tablespoons vanilla in small bowl.
• Using electric mixer, beat 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter in large bowl until smooth and fluffy. Gradually beat in 1 1/4 cups sugar, then 3/4 cup oil. Beat in 1 more cup sugar. Beat in flour mixture in 4 additions alternately with buttermilk mixture in 3 additions, scraping down sides of bowl often. Using clean dry beaters, beat 1 1/4 cups (about 10) egg whites and 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar in another large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1 cup sugar, beating until whites fall from beaters in thick, puffy (not stiff) ribbon, about 4 minutes. Fold whites into batter in 4 additions. Transfer batter to prepared 12-inch pan. Bake cake until brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour 25 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack 30 minutes. Cut around cake to loosen; remove pan sides. Maintain oven temperature.
• Make second batch of cake batter following same technique as for first cake and using same amount of each ingredient. Transfer 8 1/2 cups batter to prepared 9-inch pan; transfer 4 cups batter to prepared 6-inch pan. Bake cakes until brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes for 6-inch cake and 1 hour 18 minutes for 9-inch cake. Cool cakes in pans on racks 30 minutes. Cut around cakes to loosen. Remove pan sides. Cool all cakes completely. (Can be made 1 day before filling and frosting the cakes. Return cakes to pans. Cover with foil and store at room temperature.)
• Filling and frosting cakes
• To make filling and frosting the cakes easier, use tart-pan bottoms or buy cardboard rounds from a cake and candy supply store.
• Push 12-inch cake up to release from pan. Using large serrated knife, cut off enough of top crust to make cake 2 1/2 inches high. Cut cake horizontally into 3 layers, each about 3/4 inch thick. Using tart-pan bottom or 11-inch cardboard round, transfer top layer to work surface and cover; transfer middle layer to work surface and cover. Cut bottom layer from pan bottom and place on tart-pan bottom or cardboard round. Spread generous 1 3/4 cups mousse over. Drop 1 3/4 cups curd over by tablespoonfuls and spread to cover mousse in even layer. Refrigerate until mousse and curd are firm, about 1 hour. Using tart-pan bottom, place middle layer on bottom layer. Spread with same amounts of mousse and curd. Using tart-pan bottom, place top layer on cake and press lightly. Refrigerate assembled cake.
• Push 9-inch cake up to release from pan. Cut off enough of top crust to make cake 2 1/2 inches high. Cut cake horizontally into 3 layers, each about 3/4 inch thick. Using tart-pan bottom or cardboard round, transfer top layer to work surface and cover; repeat with middle layer. Cut bottom layer from pan bottom and place on 8-inch tart-pan bottom or cardboard round. Spread 1 1/4 cups mousse over. Drop generous 2/3 cup curd over by tablespoonfuls and spread to cover mousse in even layer. Refrigerate until mousse and curd are firm, about 1 hour. Using tart-pan bottom, place middle layer on bottom layer. Spread with same amount of mousse and curd. Using tart-pan bottom, place top layer on cake and press lightly. Refrigerate assembled cake.
• Push 6-inch cake up to release from pan. Cut off enough of top crust to make cake 2 1/2 inches high. Cut cake horizontally into 3 layers, each about 3/4 inch thick. Transfer top layer to work surface and cover; repeat with middle layer. Cut bottom layer from pan bottom and place on 5-inch tart-pan bottom or cardboard round. Spread generous 1/2 cup mousse over. Drop 6 tablespoons curd over by tablespoonfuls and spread to cover mousse in even layer. Refrigerate until mousse and curd are firm, about 1 hour. Using large spatula, place middle layer on bottom layer. Spread with same amount of mousse and curd. Using large spatula, place top layer on cake and press lightly. Refrigerate assembled cake.
• Spread 2 1/4 cups frosting thinly over top and sides of 12-inch assembled cake as first coat. Spread 1 1/2 cups frosting thinly over top and sides of 9-inch assembled cake. Spread 3/4 cup frosting thinly over top and sides of 6-inch assembled cake. Chill all cakes 1 hour.
• Spread 5 cups frosting over 12-inch cake. Spread 3 2/3 cups frosting over 9-inch cake. Spread 2 cups frosting over 6-inch cake. Refrigerate 6-inch cake.
• Place 12-inch cake on platter. Press 1 dowel straight down into center and through to bottom of cake. Mark dowel 1 1/4 inches above level of frosting. Remove dowel and cut with serrated knife at marked point. Cut 7 more dowels to same length. Press 1 dowel back into center of cake. Press remaining 7 dowels into cake, spaced equally apart and 3 to 3 1/4 inches from center dowel. Chill cake with dowels.
• Press 1 dowel straight down into center of 9-inch cake. Mark dowel 1 1/4 inches above level of frosting. Remove dowel and cut with serrated knife at marked point. Cut 5 more dowels to same length. Press 1 dowel back into center of cake. Press remaining dowels into cake, spaced equally apart and 2 inches from center; chill with dowels. (Can be made 2 days ahead. After frosting is firm, cover cakes with cake domes or loosely with foil; keep chilled.)
• Assembly and decoration
• Mix of large and tiny white roses and freesias (about 5 dozen)
• Place 9-inch cake atop dowels in 12-inch cake. Place 6-inch cake atop dowels in 9-inch cake. Place large roses between bottom and middle tiers, fitting in tiny roses and freesias to fill space. Fill space between middle and top tiers with mix of flowers.
• Berry compote
• This fruit compote contributes color and flavor contrast to each serving of the cake.
• Combine all ingredients in large bowl; toss to coat. Cover; chill until juices form, at least 1 hour and up to 6 hours.
• Serving
• Place top and middle cake tiers on work surface. Remove flowers and dowels from cakes. Cut top cake into 8 slices. Cut middle cake into 16 slices. Insert knife straight down into 12-inch cake 3 inches from edge. Continue to cut around cake 3 inches from edge, making 6-inch-diameter circle in center. Cut outer ring into 18 slices. Cut 6-inch center into 8 slices. Place cake slices on plates; spoon compote alongside each.

GERMAN WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake:.
• Position the racks in the upper and lower thirds and preheat oven to 350°F
• Lightly butter the bottom and sides of three 8-inch.
• round cake pans. Line the pans with parchment paper. Dust the bottom and sides with flour; tap out the excess.
• Into a medium bowl, sift the cake flour and the baking soda. Using an electric mixer set at medium.
• speed, cream the butter and the sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in one egg yolk at a time blending well after each addition. Beat in the melted white chocolate mixture and the vanilla. At low speed, blend in the sifted flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk; do not.
• overbeat. Fold in the coconut and pecans.
• Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Blend 1/3 of the egg whites into the cake mixture to lighten it; carefully fold in the remaining egg whites. Spoon the batter into the prepared pans.
• Bake until the cake springs back when touched in the center and a cake tester inserted in the center of the pans comes out clean, about 35 to 40 minutes.
• Transfer the cakes in the pans to wire racks and.
• cool 10 minutes. Invert the cakes onto the wire racks, carefully peel off the parchment paper, and cool completely.
• For the frosting:.
• In a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the evaporated milk, sugar, butter, and egg yolks. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Do not let mixture boil fast; lower the heat if necessary.
• Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, pecans, and coconut.
• Place the saucepan into a bowl filled with ice and stir constantly until the frosting is cool and slightly thickened.
• Place a cake layer on a serving platter. Spread 1/4 of the frosting evenly over the cake layer,.
• making sure to spread it all the way to the edges.
• Top with the second layer, and spread with 1/4 of the.
• frosting. Top with the third cake layer. Evenly frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.

DOUBLE-THE-LOVE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the base and sides of deep, round 20cm and 15cm cake tins with baking parchment - making sure the paper comes a few cms above the sides.
• Boil the kettle. Put half the butter and chocolate in a pan and gently melt, stirring. Mix together half of the flour, sugar, cocoa and bicarb with a pinch of salt. Whisk 2 of the eggs and 200ml buttermilk together. Scrape the melted chocolate mixture and egg mixture into the dry ingredients. Add 150ml boiling water and whizz everything together with an electric whisk until lump-free. Divide between the tins and bake for 40-45 mins, swapping round after 30 mins if they're on different shelves (the 15cm one should be done after 40 mins). To test they're cooked, push in a skewer and check it comes out clean. Cool the cakes in their tins.
• Repeat steps 1 and 2 again, so you end up with 2 x 20cm cakes and 2 x 15cm cakes.
• Melt the white chocolate in a bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Beat together the butter and icing sugar, then beat in the white chocolate. When the cakes are cool, split each one in half. Use the icing to sandwich back together so you end up with 2 x four-layered cakes. Sit the 20cm cake on your serving plate and spread some more icing over the top. Sit the smaller cake on top of that, and completely cover with icing. Decorate with the chocolate buttons.
• If you want to add some flowers choose something edible, like roses. Make a posy, wrapping the stems in a little damp kitchen paper then some cling film, add a ribbon and add to the cake on the day of the wedding.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 - (8 or 9 inch) round pans.
• In a double boiler, over lightly simmering water, melt 3 ounces white chocolate, stirring occasionally, until melted; set aside and cool to lukewarm. In a small bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; set aside. In a large chilled bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form; set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs or about 5 minutes, or until light and lemon colored. Beat in 1 teaspoon almond flavoring and melted white chocolate. Fold in whipped cream. Fold in flour mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time. Pour batter into prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
• To make White Chocolate Frosting: In a large bowl, heat 3 ounces white baking chocolate over low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted; cool to lukewarm. In a medium bowl on medium speed, combine melted white chocolate, confectioners' sugar, butter, water and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Beat until smooth and of spreading consistency.

WHITE CHOCOLATE & RASPBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the base of 2 x 20cm round, loose-bottomed cake tins. Put the butter and chocolate in a heatproof mixing bowl, set over a pan of barely simmering water and allow to melt slowly, stirring occasionally.
• When the butter and chocolate have melted, remove from the heat and allow to cool for 1-2 mins, then beat in the eggs and sugar with an electric whisk. Fold in the flour and raspberries.
• Gently pour the mixture into the tins and bake for 20-25 mins or until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean (the raspberries may leave a residue on the skewer, so don't be fooled by their juiciness). Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool in the tins for 10 mins before turning out onto a wire rack.
• To make the ganache, put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl with 100ml of the cream, set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir until the chocolate has melted into the cream and you are left with a smooth, glossy ganache. Leave the ganache to cool to room temperature, then beat in the rest of the cream.
• When the cakes have cooled, sandwich them together with the chocolate ganache. Dust with icing sugar just before serving.

WEDDING CAKE - RICH DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Butter, double-line and wrap the sides of the 30cm deep-round cake tin as before. Put the butter and chocolate into a medium saucepan, then stir over a low heat until melted and smooth. Stir in the coffee and vanilla.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda into the biggest bowl you have. Add the sugar, breaking down any lumps with your fingertips if necessary. Beat the eggs and soured cream together in a jug or bowl and pour into the flour mix. Pour in the melted chocolate mix as well, then stir with a wooden spoon until you have a thick, even chocolaty batter.
• Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 2½ hrs - don't open the oven door before 2 hrs is up, as this will cause the cake to sink. Once cooked, leave in the tin to cool completely. The unfilled cake will keep for up to four days, wrapped as before, or frozen for a month.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease a 20 x 30cm tin, then line with baking parchment. Beat the butter, flour, sugar, baking powder, eggs, yogurt, milk and vanilla until lump-free. Stir in the chopped chocolate. Spoon into tin; bake for 25-30 mins until golden and risen and a skewer comes out clean. Cool in the tin.
• Melt the rest of the chocolate. Stir icing sugar into soft cheese, then the chocolate until smooth. Chill, spread over the cake, then cut into squares and decorate.

JANE HORNBY'S DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MARBLE WEDDING CAKE

Steps:

• First make the cakes. Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Make the 18cm and 23cm cakes first. Butter then line the base and sides of both a 23cm and an 18cm round, deep cake tin. Have two large bowls ready, then put 250g flour, ¾ tsp each baking powder and bicarbonate of soda, and ¼ tsp salt into both bowls. Add the muscovado to one, the caster sugar to the other, then stir. Break up any muscovado lumps with your fingers.
• Put the butter, chocolate, vanilla and coffee in a saucepan and heat very gently until melted and smooth. In another pan, do the same with the white chocolate ingredients. This white chocolate mix will look buttery and separated, but that's fine. While you wait, put a large jug onto your scales, crack in the eggs and add the soured cream. Make a note of the weight (it should be about 800g in total). Beat to combine.
• When the chocolates are melted, tip the dark mix into the bowl that has the muscovado in it. Tip the white chocolate mixture into the other. Pour half of the egg and soured cream mix into each bowl (do this on scales to be sure).
• Beat each bowl with a spatula or balloon whisk to make a smooth, runny batter. Leave it to sit for a few moments to thicken a little, then spoon alternate blobs of the batters into the tins, until they are filled to two-thirds full and all of the mix has been used. I find an old-fashioned ice cream scoop really useful for this. Using a skewer, swirl the two mixes together just a few times, to marble the mixtures.
• Bake the cakes together on the same shelf, in the middle of the oven, for 1 hr 30 mins or until risen and crusty-looking on top, and a skewer inserted comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tins for 30 mins, then turn onto a wire rack and cool completely.
• To make the 30cm cake, butter then line a 30cm round cake tin with baking parchment, then wrap the outside with a couple of layers of newspaper, securing with string (as you might a Christmas cake). Repeat the recipe as above, dividing the quantities for the 30cm cake in half between two bowls, as before. Bake the cake for 1 hr 45 mins and test as before.
• Make the buttercreams. Follow this method for both buttercreams and keep them separate. Heat the cream and coffee liqueur in a small pan until steam rises. Put the chocolate in a smallish bowl and pour over the hot cream. Leave to melt for a few mins, stirring until smooth. Leave to cool completely.
• In a large bowl, beat the butter with a pinch of salt with an electric whisk until pale and smooth. Gradually beat in the icing sugar to make fluffy buttercream. When all the sugar is in, gradually add the cooled ganache and beat together well. The white chocolate mixture will be whipped and very pale, while the dark chocolate mixture will be a milk chocolate colour when finished.
• Split and layer the cakes. Once each cake is completely cool, level off its slightly chewy, brownie-ish top using a long serrated knife. Spread a little dark chocolate buttercream over the thin cake board that matches the cake you're working on. Turn the cake upside-down onto the board, then sit this on a sheet of baking parchment, so you can spin the cake around.
• Split cake into three layers using a length of cotton or, as this is a fairly sturdy cake, simply cut using a long serrated knife, if you prefer.
• Now you can start to fill the cake. If you've made the buttercreams in advance and they have hardened slightly, warm in the microwave on defrost for 10 seconds and beat well. Half-fill a piping bag with the dark chocolate buttercream, either with a wide nozzle or just the end snipped off. Pipe a ring of buttercream around the inside edge of the bottom cake layer. This is going to keep the white and dark frostings separated and neat.
• Spoon some of the white chocolate frosting into the middle of the cake and spread it out to meet the dark frosting at about the same thickness. Stack the middle layer of the cake back on top and repeat until the cake is rebuilt. Chill for 10 mins. Ensure any crumbs are cleaned away, then cover the top and sides of the cake with an even coating of dark chocolate buttercream, paddling it out over the top and down the sides using a palette knife. Smooth the top as best you can. Repeat with all three cakes.
• Chill the cakes for at least 30 mins to allow the buttercream to firm up before covering in sugarpaste. Can be done up to three days ahead.
• Cover the cakes in sugarpaste. Starting with the small cake, transfer the cakes to new sheets of baking parchment, as any blobs of buttercream could get into the sugarpaste.
• Knead the sugarpaste until pliable, then shape into a smooth ball. Lightly dust the work surface and the top of the icing with icing sugar, then use a large rolling pin to roll a circle large enough to cover the entire cake and for the icing to be about 5mm thick. If you're not sure, roughly measure the cake with a piece of string from one side to the other (don't get it chocolatey). Using your rolling pin to help, or just lifting it with your hands, lift the sugarpaste over the cake.
• When the icing is in the right position, drop it onto the cake. Smooth it over the cake with your palms, working from the top down, until there are no wrinkles or folds. Push the excess in towards where the cake meets the board.
• Using a small sharp knife, trim the excess sugarpaste away from the cake. Keep the cake on the work surface for this, don't be tempted to lift it up as if you're trimming a pie, as the sugarpaste can rip.
• Using your palms or a plastic cake smoother, polish the sugarpaste to make a smooth, silky surface. Slide the cake somewhere it won't be disturbed and leave to dry overnight, if possible. Repeat for all of the cakes. Brush a little cooled boiled water over the 35cm drum and cover that in sugarpaste, too.
• Dowel the cake and decorate each tier. Now you need to insert dowels into the cake, which act like internal scaffolding. Starting with the 30cm cake, push three dowelling rods in a triangle into the middle of the cake - they should be set apart no wider than the base of the 23cm cake. Lightly mark where the top of the icing comes to on the dowel.
• Carefully pull out the dowels and line up on the work surface. Then, using a ruler, re-mark each rod to the highest point. Score the dowels with scissors around the marks and snap the plastic.
• Re-insert the rods in their original holes, rounded-end down.
• Make the royal icing, following pack instructions, to a fairly thick icing. Put a no.2 nozzle into a piping bag, then fill with some of the icing; cover the rest with cling film. Pipe random dots over the 18cm cake, from pea-sized to pinhead-sized. To make a large blob, squeeze continuously, rather than trying to draw a circle and fill it in. As you near the base, make the dots more sparse, eventually fading to nothing where the ribbon is going to sit). Leave to dry. The icing needs to be the right consistency, so that it pipes but doesn't drip.
• For the chevrons, knead a little of the colouring into the sugarpaste until evenly pink. Split into two; keep one half covered with cling film. Using a little icing sugar, roll the other half to about £1 coin thickness, and in a rectangle just bigger than A4 size. Starting from one of the short edges, cut into ribbons 2.5-3cm wide. Carefully lift the strips onto a piece of parchment on a board and take them outside, out of the wind. Spray with pink spray, then take back indoors and leave to dry for couple of mins. Repeat with the second piece of paste.
• Positioning the pink strips. Brush a little cooled boiled water in a diagonal stripe up the side of the 23cm cake, then position one of the pink chevrons up against it, letting it overlap at the bottom and curve around to meet the middle of the cake at the top. Press into position, cut away the excess flush to the cake and leave to dry. Do this with each of the chevrons, spacing them evenly. Go easy with the water and try to keep your hands clean and dry.
• For the gold cake, take it outside as well, then spray liberally to create a shimmery gold effect. Don't waste the spray on the middle of the cake where the next cake will sit. Leave to dry.
• Stack and complete the cake. To stack the cakes, spoon a little of the leftover royal icing over each of the dowel holes on the 30cm cake (bottom layer). Carefully lift the 30cm cake onto the covered board, then stack the remaining cakes on top of one another, positioning each cake and gently lowering the back edge of the cake onto the cake below. Make sure it's central, then slide a palette knife under the cake and gently lower the cake down. Slide the knife out at the last minute.
• Run a thin line of royal icing around the edge of the base board and attach 110cm pale blue ribbon. Fasten ribbon around the base of the gold cake and the white dotty cake, then finish with fresh flowers (wrap stems in flower tape or foil first).

WHITE CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round pans; set aside. Microwave chocolate and butter in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted; cool slightly.
• Beat cake mix, milk, eggs, vanilla and chocolate mixture in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Pour into prepared pans.
• Bake 25 to 28 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans 10 min.; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool cakes completely.
• Place 1 cake layer on plate; spread with 2/3 cup White Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting, then jam. Cover with remaining cake layer. Spread top and side with remaining frosting. Top with raspberries just 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.