German Chocolate Dream Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 13x9-in. baking pan. , Sprinkle coconut and 1 cup pecans into baking pan. Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Pour batter into prepared pan., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth; beat in confectioners' sugar. Stir in chocolate chips and remaining pecans. Spoon over batter. Cut through batter with a knife to swirl. Bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

Steps:

• Place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chips; whisk until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Refrigerate until completely chilled., Grease and flour three 8-in. round baking pans; set aside. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, water, mayonnaise and eggs; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 23-28 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 small heavy saucepan, heat the sugar, milk, butter and egg yolks over medium-low heat until mixture is thickened and golden brown, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat. Stir in the coconut, pecans and vanilla. Cool until thick enough to spread. , To assemble, place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with a third of the filling. Repeat layers twice. Beat chilled cream mixture until soft peaks form. Spread over sides of cake. Drizzle fudge topping over cake. Refrigerate until serving.

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat two 9-inch round cake pans with oil and dust with flour. Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a small bowl; set aside.
• Microwave the chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl on high power for 45 seconds; remove and stir. Microwave again at high power in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until the chocolate has melted completely; set aside.
• Beat the granulated sugar, oil and eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in the melted chocolate. Alternate beating in the flour mixture and the milk, adding the flour in three additions and the milk in two, starting and ending with the flour, until just incorporated. Add half the milk, and mix until just incorporated. Repeat with the remaining flour mixture and milk, making sure not to overmix. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes, run a thin spatula around the edges and then turn the cakes out onto a cooling rack to cool completely. (They will have a sugary "crust" on the top. This is from the melted chocolate and is not a problem. It will soften once the cake is assembled or if the layers are baked the day before.)
• For the filling: While the cakes cool, spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake, tossing once, until toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Finely chop. Whisk together the milk and egg yolks in a medium saucepan until smooth. Add the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, vanilla and salt, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture has thickened and coats the back of a spoon, 5 to 6 minutes. (It will be similar to the thickness of eggnog.) Pour the mixture into a large bowl. (Don't worry if it seems thin. The coconut and nuts will bind it.) Stir in the coconut and pecans; set aside to cool.
• For the frosting: Put the chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat 1 cup of the cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until steaming but not boiling, and pour over the chocolate. Let stand a few minutes, and then whisk until smooth; let stand at room temperature (or put in the refrigerator if your kitchen is hot) until thick but not set, 20 minutes to 1 hour. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons cream to the chocolate mixture, and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until lightened in color and fluffy, about 1 minute (do not overbeat, or it will become hard and grainy). The frosting should hold medium peaks and will continue to firm up a bit as it stands. Spoon about 1 cup frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip.
• To assemble: Put one cake layer right-side up on a serving plate, and top with half the filling. Top with the second cake layer and the remaining filling, spreading it to about 1/2 inch from the edge. Frost the sides, and decorate around the top edge of the cake with the frosting in the pastry bag.
• Loosely cover the cake with plastic wrap and leave at room temperature overnight. Unwrap and serve.

Steps:

• For the cajeta filling/frosting:
• Bring the milk, coconut milk and goat's milk to a simmer over low heat in a small saucepan. Keep warm while you prepare the caramel.
• Combine the sugar and water in a medium saucepan over high heat and cook (do not stir) until it becomes a deep amber brown color. Slowly whisk in the warm milk mixture and continue whisking until smooth; add the vanilla seeds and corn syrup. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until the sauce is reduced by half and is the consistency of a caramel sauce, about 55 minutes.
• Once the sauce is reduced, remove from the heat and whisk in the cold butter, vanilla extract, salt and rum and whisk until combined. Transfer the sauce to a medium bowl and stir in the pecans and coconut. Let the frosting cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally before frosting the cake.
• For the ganache:
• Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over low heat. Put the chocolate into a medium bowl, add the hot cream and the corn syrup and let sit for 30 seconds. Gently whisk until smooth. Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before pouring over the cake.
• For the chocolate cake:
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter 2 (9-inch) cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
• Melt the 12 tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the cocoa powder and cook for 1 minute. Remove from the heat, add the sugars and whisk until the sugar is dissolved. Add the coffee, buttermilk, eggs and vanilla extract and continue whisking until smooth and just combined. Slowly add the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture until combined.
• Divide the batter evenly between the 2 pans and bake on the middle rack until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 42 minutes. Let cool in the pans on a baking rack for 20 minutes. Then invert the cakes onto the baking rack and let cool for at least 1 hour before frosting. Slice each cake in half horizontally. Put 1 cake layer on a cake round or platter and spread 1/3 of the frosting evenly over the top, repeat to make 3 layers and top with the remaining cake layer, top side up. Pour the chocolate ganache over the cake and let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
• For the coconut whipped cream:
• Combine the heavy cream, coconut milk, sugar, rum and vanilla in a stand mixer and mix until soft peaks form. Slice the cake, top each serving with a dollop of whipped cream and garnish with some of the toasted coconut.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Spray 3 (9-inch) round pans with cooking spray; cover bottoms with waxed paper. Add boiling water to chocolate in small bowl; stir until chocolate is completely melted.
• Beat egg whites in small bowl with mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form; set aside. Mix flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Blend in egg yolks, 1 at a time. Add melted chocolate and vanilla; mix well. Beat in flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, mixing well after each addition. Gently stir in egg whites until well blended.
• Pour into prepared pans.
• Bake 35 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Immediately run spatula around cakes. Cool in pans 15 min. Remove cakes from pans to wire racks; remove waxed paper. Cool cakes completely. Meanwhile, prepare Coconut-Pecan Filling and Frosting.
• Stack cakes on plate, filling layers and spreading top of cake with frosting. (Note: Nutrition is for both cake and frosting.)

Steps:

• Cake.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
• In a standing mixer, cream butter and sugars together until fluffy in a standing mixer.
• Beat in eggs and vanilla.
• Put the water, chocolate, and espresso powder in a small saucepan and stir on low heat until melted. Allow to cool slightly and then beat into butter mixture.
• Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt and stir into batter alternately with sour cream.
• Divide batter evenly between the 2 pans and bake for 25 minutes, until a tester inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean.
• Allow to cool for 15 minutes in the pans, then turn cakes out onto a plate or rack to cool completely.
• Goopy Topping.
• In a medium pot, whisk together cornstarch, cream, corn syrup, sugars, and egg yolks.
• Cut up butter into small pieces and add to pot.
• Over medium heat, whisk goopy topping constantly until bubbly and shiny, about 4-5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and immediately scrape out topping into a bowl, to halt the cooking process.
• Stir in vanilla, salt, pecans, and coconut.
• Cover and chill completely.
• Frosting.
• Melt chocolate in a bowl over a pot of simmering water or in the microwave at medium heat, stirring every 20 seconds. Set aside. Let cool slightly.
• Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until stiff peaks.
• Bring water and sugar to a boil and cook over high heat until temperature reaches 240 degrees F (softball stage). You can use a candy thermometer, or test by spooning a little of the hot sugar syrup into a glass of ice water - if you can roll it between your fingers into a soft ball, then it is ready.
• While beating whites at medium speed, slowly add sugar syrup (be careful - it's hot!) until all the syrup has been added. Continue to beat whites until cool, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• Start adding butter to egg whites, a little at a time, while mixing constantly and scraping the sides of the bowl often, until all the butter has been incorporated. If the frosting looks like it's separating or looks curdled, don't worry - just keep mixing and it will come together.
• Mix in melted chocolate, vanilla, cocoa powder and salt. Keep at room temperature to ice cake. If making a day ahead, chill frosting but bring to room temperature and beat well before using.
• To Assemble.
• Level cakes if necessary, using a serrated knife. Spread a dollop of chocolate frosting on one layer of cake. Spoon a third of the goopy topping over frosting. Spread in the centre of the cake leaving an inch from the edge of the cake, without topping.
• Place second cake on top of first and dollop a generous amount of chocolate frosting on top. Spread to edges of cake, working from the middle and turning the cake as you work around. Ice the sides of the cake, but leave about ½ cup of icing for piping, if desired.
• Spread remaining goopy topping on top of cake, leaving ½ inch around the outside edge. If you do not wish to pipe outside edge with chocolate frosting, simply garnish the cake with toasted pecan halves.
• To pipe an edge, place frosting in a piping bag fitted with a star tip or leaf tip. Pipe frosting as desired. Remember - it's just frosting! If you're not pleased with how it looks, just scrape it off and start again. Again remember to lick your fingers often!
• Cake can be chilled until ready to serve. Frosting will firm up once chilled.

Steps:

• MAKE THE GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE LAYERS: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter three 8-inch cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper, and butter the parchment. Dust with flour, and knock out the excess flour.
• Sift the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium mixing bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the coffee and buttermilk.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Scrape down the bowl and add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated. Add the vanilla and beat to incorporate. The mixture will look light and fluffy.
• Add the flour mixture, alternating with the coffee/buttermilk mixture, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in the melted chocolate.
• Divide the batter among the prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through the baking time, until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean. Transfer the cakes to a wire rack and let cool for 20 minutes. Invert the cakes onto the rack and remove the pans and let cool completely. Remove the parchment.
• MAKE THE COCONUT PECAN FILLING: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Spread half of the coconut evenly across the pan and place in the oven for 5 minutes or until the coconut begins to brown. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.
• In a large saucepan, stir together the sugar, butter, evaporated milk, vanilla, and egg yolks. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. After the mixture begins to boil and thicken, remove from the heat and stir in the toasted coconut, regular coconut, and pecans.
• Place the pan over an ice bath (a large bowl filled with ice) and stir the mixture until cool.
• ASSEMBLE THE CAKE: Place one cake layer on a serving platter. Trim the top to create a flat surface and evenly spread one third of the filling on top. Add the next layer, trim and frost with one third of the filling, then add the third layer. Trim the top, and frost with the remaining filling. The cake will keep in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 2 days.

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350°F In an ungreased 9-inch cake pan, mix the topping ingredients. Spread evenly in the pan.
• In small, microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate and 1/4 cup water on High 1-1.5 minutes or until chocolate is melted. Stir to blend.
• In a medium bowl, beat the sugar and 1/2 cup butter with electric mixer on medium until light and fluffy.
• Beat in vanilla and eggs until well blended.
• On low speed, beat in 3/4 cup of the flour and the milk. Add remaining 1/2 cup flour; beat well.
• Stir in chocolate mixture until blended. Pour batter over the topping in the pan.
• Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Run a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen. Place serving plate upside down over cake in pan. Turn the plate and pan over. Remove pan. Serve warm or cool.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Cover bottoms of 3 (9-inch) round pans with parchment; spray sides with cooking spray. Microwave chocolate and water in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 to 2 min. or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after 1 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted.
• Beat egg whites in small bowl with mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form; set aside. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each. Blend in melted chocolate and vanilla. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating until well blended after each addition.
• Add egg whites; stir gently until well blended. Pour into prepared pans.
• Bake 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Immediately run small spatula around cakes in pans. Cool cakes in pans 15 min. Remove from pans to wire racks; cool completely.
• Prepare Coconut-Pecan Filling and Frosting http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/coconut-pecan-filling-frosting-51053.aspx ; spread between cake layers and onto top of cake.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Line a 15"x10" pan with wax paper.
• Wisk together cocoa, sugar and boiling water.
• Cool to lukewarm.
• Prepare cake mix to pkg. directions, using the water and adding the cocoa mixture.
• Spread batter evenly in the pan.
• Bake 20 minutes or till top looks dry.
• Invert onto large rack.
• Remove pan and wax paper and let cool.
• In a medium bowl, dissolve coffee in milk.
• Add whip topping& pudding mixes.
• Beat on low speed till moistened, then high speed till soft peaks form.
• Chill 5 minutes.
• Cut cake crosswise into thirds, cover each with topping, then stack.
• (I'll probably skip the stacking and just frost& serve) Chill for 2 hours.

Steps:

• Filling: Combine all ingredients in a saucepan.
• Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture is thickened and bubbly.
• Reduce heat to low and cook stirring for 1-2 minutes more.
• Let filling cool until spreadable.
• Will keep 1 week in refrigerator.
• Soften before using.
• Spread filling between cake layers and on top of cake.
• Ice sides with very soft ganache.
• Coat sides with pecans.