Chocolate Valentine Cake With Glossy Chocolate Frosting Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 with rack in the center.
• Spray two 8" round cake pans with nonstick spray.
• Whisk dry cake ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
• Combine water, oil, vinegar, instant coffee granules, and vanilla in a large measuring cup.
• Add to the dry ingredients and whisk until combined- a few lumps are ok.
• Divide batter between the two pans (about 3 cups each), then bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (35- 40 min).
• Cool cakes for 15 minutes on a rack, then invert them onto the rack.
• Leave upside down until completely cooled before frosting them.
• To make icing, melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat.
• Stir in sugar, cocoa, and salt- the mixture will be thick/grainy.
• Combine cream, sour cream and coffee granules in a large measuring cup, mixing until smooth.
• Gradually add cream mixture to chocolate until blended and smooth.
• Cook until sugar has dissolved, and mixture is smooth and hot to the touch.
• DO NOT BOIL.
• Take mixture off the heat, and add vanilla.
• Cool at room temperature until spreadable (up to three hours).
• If it isn't getting thick enough to be spreadable, put in the refrigerator until thick enough to spread.
• If it gets too thick to spread easily, warm gently in the microwave until it's just right (20 seconds or so, repeat if necessary).
• Stir well, and ice cake, frosting first layer, then placing second layer on top, and icing the top and then the sides.

Steps:

• Adjust the racks to the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spray two 9-by-1-1/2-inch round cake pans with nonstick spray.
• Add the granulated sugar and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer outfitted with the paddle attachment. Beat until creamy, just 2 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time to the mixture and beat until mixed together.
• Whisk together the cake flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. In a measuring cup, mix the milk and vanilla extract together. Turn the mixer back to medium speed and add the flour mixture and milk mixture alternately to create a smooth batter.
• Evenly divide the cake batter between the prepared pans. Bake until the cakes start pulling away from the edges of the pan and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool the cakes for 10 minutes in their pans, then turn them out on a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
• Frost the cake by tucking parchment underneath the first cake layer and the cake plate. Spread the Chocolate Frosting evenly over the first layer, then place the second cake on top. Frost the top of the cake, then work your way over the sides. Remove the parchment and serve.
• Add the chopped chocolate to a heatproof bowl and set over a lightly simmering pot of water (make sure the bottom of the pot is not touching the water). Stir until the chocolate is completely smooth and melted. Remove from the heat and cool until room temperature, about 15 minutes.
• Add the confectioners' sugar to a medium bowl and whisk out the lumps.
• Beat the butter in a stand mixer outfitted with the paddle attachment until creamy. Add the cooled melted chocolate. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar in 3 batches and beat until combined. Add the milk, vanilla and salt, and beat until the mixture is creamy, well mixed and spreadable.

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Position a rack in the center of the oven. Grease the cake pans with 1 tablespoon butter, then dust with 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, tapping out any extra. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and remaining 1 1/2 cups cocoa powder. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the sugar and remaining 3 sticks butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the vanilla, then beat in the eggs one at a time. On low speed, add the salt directly to the wet ingredients, then add half of the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Add the sour cream and mix until just combined. Remove the bowl from the mixer and gently incorporate the remaining flour mixture with a rubber spatula. Do not overmix. Fold in the chocolate chips.
• Spread half of the batter in each of the prepared pans. Tap the pans lightly on the counter so that the batter settles. Place the pans on the center rack of the oven and bake until a tester or small knife inserted in the center emerges clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool for at least 30 minutes. Unmold onto a rack. Cool to room temperature, 1 1/2 to 2 hours more.
• Mix together the bourbon and the simple syrup in a bowl. Set aside.
• For the frosting: In a medium pot, bring the heavy cream to a simmer. In a medium oven-safe bowl, combine the chocolate and sugar. Place the bowl on top of the pot with the heavy cream to melt. Once the cream is simmering, pour it over the chocolate mixture and stir until all of the chocolate has melted and you have a glossy ganache. Gently stir in the vanilla, followed by the butter pieces. Set aside to let cool to room temperature.
• Transfer the chocolate mixture to the clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whip the frosting for 1 to 2 minutes to lighten the texture.
• Put the cake layers on a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack. Using a pastry brush, brush about half the bourbon mixture on each cake layer. Frost the top of the bottom layer, then stack the other layer on top. Frost the top and sides of the cake.

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 350°. Sift flour, 1 cup sugar and cocoa together twice., Add cream of tartar, vanilla and salt to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form. Gradually fold in flour mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time., Gently transfer to an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake on lowest oven rack until top springs back when lightly touched and cracks feel dry, 40-50 minutes. Immediately invert pan; cool completely in pan, about 1 hour., Run a knife around sides and center tube of pan. Remove cake to a serving plate. For glaze, in a microwave, melt chocolate chips with cream; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cake.

Steps:

• Let egg whites stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line two greased 9-in. heart-shaped pans with waxed paper and grease the paper; set aside. In a small bowl, combine cocoa and water until smooth; cool. , In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1 cup sugar, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks, oil, vanilla and cocoa mixture. Add to dry ingredients; beat until well blended. , In a small bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form; fold into chocolate mixture., Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely; carefully remove waxed paper. , In a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar until stiff peaks form; reserving 1-1/2 cups. Spread remaining frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. , Spoon reserved frosting into a pastry bag with a star tip. Pipe a decorative lattice design on cake top and sides. Garnish with strawberries and mint if desired. Refrigerate until serving.

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the sugar, sugar substitute, cocoa and cornstarch. Add water and stir until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in butter and vanilla until smooth. Spread over cupcakes or cake while frosting is still warm.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan, two 9-inch round cake pans, or three 8-inch round cake pans. In large bowl, beat all cake ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan(s).
• Bake rectangle 40 to 45 minutes, rounds 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool rectangle in pan on cooling rack. Cool rounds 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely.
• In 2 1/2-quart saucepan, mix all frosting ingredients except vanilla. Heat to rolling boil, stirring occasionally. Boil 1 minute without stirring. Place saucepan in bowl of ice and water. Beat until frosting is smooth and spreadable; stir in vanilla. Frost rectangle or fill and frost layers with frosting.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300ºF.
• Spray two 9 x 2-inch round cake pans with Crisco No Stick Cooking Spray. Line bottoms with rounds of wax paper or parchment paper; spray again.
• Combine chocolate chips and hot coffee in a bowl. Let mixture stand, whisking occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
• Whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
• Beat, in the bowl of an electric mixer, eggs until thick and yellow, about 3-5 minutes. Slowly add Oil, milk, vanilla and melted chocolate mixture to eggs, beating until combined well. Add dry ingredients and beat on medium speed until just combined well.
• Divide batter between pans and bake in middle of oven until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 45 minutes.
• Cool layers in pans on racks for 30-45 minutes. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks. Carefully remove wax paper and cool layers completely.
• Whisk together, in a 1-1/2- to 2-quart saucepan, the cream, sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking until sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from heat and add chocolate chips, whisking until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
• Crisco into 3 pieces and add to frosting, whisking until smooth.
• Transfer icing to a bowl and chill until spreadable, about 30 minutes.
• Spread icing between cake layers and over top and sides.

Steps:

• FOR THE CAKE: Place eggs in blender container and whip for a few seconds. While the blender continues running, add the remaining ingredients in the order listed and blend for 30 seconds.
• Pour the batter into a greased and floured 10-inch layer pan with a removable bottom. REPEAT this for second layer. Bake the 2 layers at one time in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.
• NOTE: Don't double this recipe for the cake, do it twice. It's so fast it won't take long to whiz it up.
• Fill with whipped cream between the layers and frost with Heavenly chocolate Frosting. Serves 8 very lucky people.
• FOR THE WHIPPING CREAM FILLING: Beat 3/4 cup cream with 1 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla until cream is stiff.
• FOR THE CHOCOLATE FROSTING: Place chocolate chips in blender container. Heat together the butter and cream until comes to a boil. Pour hot mixture into blender container and whip for 30 seconds or until frosting is smooth and chocolate is melted. Allow to cool and spread on cake. Will frost the top and sides of 1 10-inch cake.
• 7/8 cups is just below 1 cup, between 3/4 and 1 cup.
• Love of Eating.

Steps:

• Place rack in center of oven and 15 minutes before baking, preheat to 375°.
• Divide sugar in half.
• Sift one half 3 times.
• Set aside.
• Sift the other half of sugar with the flour and cocoa 3 times.
• Set aside.
• Put egg whites in 4 quart grease-free bowl and beat on low speed with electric mixer until foamy.
• Add cream of tartar, vanilla and salt and increase speed to medium.
• Add the 3/4 cup sugar, one T at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Continue beating on medium until whites have increased their volume fivefold and hold their shape but are still shiny and moist.
• Gently and thoroughly fold in flour mixture, by thirds.
• Pour into ungreased 10" tube pan.
• Smooth the surface and cut through batter 5 or 6 times with a rubber spatula to break large air pockets.
• Bake 30-35 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Invert over a narrow-necked bottle and allow to cool.
• When completely cooled use a knife to loosen it from the side of the pan and turn out on wire rack.
• Drizzle Chocolate Glaze over top and allow to run down sides of cake.
• Chocolate Glaze: Combine chocolate, butter and water in bowl and microwave on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring once a minute until smooth.

Steps:

• To prepare the cake: Preheat oven to 350* (F).
• Grease and flour a 9x13x2 inch pan; set aside.
• Melt chocolate in boiling water; cool.
• In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar.
• Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well.
• Stir in cooled chocolate and vanilla.
• Sift together flour, baking powder and salt.
• Add sifted ingredients to cake batter, alternating with milk.
• Add red food coloring.
• In another bowl, beat egg whites until stiff, but not dry.
• Fold into batter.
• Pour into prepared baking dish.
• Bake 35-40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool; frost with prepared frosting.
• For frosting: Mix sugar, cornstarch and salt together.
• Add sugar mixture to boiling water, stirring constantly over medium heat, until mixture comes to a boil.
• Boil for one minute then remove from heat.
• Stir in chocolate bits until smooth.
• Stir in butter and vanilla.
• Spread on cake while still warm.