Hidden Treasure Chocolate Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Microwave chocolate and cream in large microwaveable bowl on MEDIUM (50%) 2 to 3 min. or until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 1-1/2 min. Cool slightly. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating with electric mixer on high speed until mixture is well blended and of desired spreading consistency.
• Use a serrated knife to cut off top one third of cake. Set top aside. Place bottom of cake on large serving platter; spread with chocolate frosting. Scatter candies and some of the coins around cake as desired. Replace top of cake; spread with the remaining chocolate frosting to resemble a treasure chest.
• Decorate top of chest with string licorice and some of the remaining candies. Sprinkle wafer crumbs onto platter to resemble sand. Arrange any remaining coins and candy in "sand." Store in refrigerator.

Steps:

• Place cake on serving plate and cut a slice off the top 3/4 inches thick.
• Cut a trench or tunnel 1 inch wide and 1 inch deep around the center interior of the cake, making sure not to cut through the bottom.
• Remove the cake cutout.
• Stir water into the jello powder until powder is completely dissolved.
• Add enough cold water to 1/2 cup ice cubes to fill to 3/4 cups and stir into jello mixture until ice cubes are completely melted.
• Set aside 1/2 cup of jello mixture in medium bowl.
• Add the Cool Whip and stir with a wire whisk until well blended.
• Cool in the fridge for 10- 15 minutes or until thick enough to spread.
• Refrigerate remaining jello mixture until thickened (5- 10 minutes, but it took me longer than that).
• Stir in 3/4 cups of the fruit and spoon into the tunnel in the cake.
• Replace the top of the cake and frost the entire cake with the Cool Whip and jello mixture.
• Garnish the top of the cake with the remaining 1/4 cup of the fruit.

Steps:

• PREHEAT oven to 400°F Microwave chocolate and butter in medium microwaveable bowl on MEDIUM 3 minute or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted; set aside.
• BEAT eggs, granulated sugar and coffee in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until thickened. Add flour and the chocolate mixture; beat just until blended. Pour into 6 generously greased and lightly floured 6-oz. custard cups; place cups on baking sheet.
• BAKE 11 to 15 minute or until cakes are puffed with crusted tops, but still soft in the centres. Cool 5 minute Invert cakes onto individual dessert plates. Sift icing sugar evenly over the cakes. Serve warm.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Grease and line a 30x20cm cake tin with baking parchment.
• Put the butter and 200g of the chocolate into a saucepan and heat gently until melted. Remove from the heat. Sieve the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl. Mix in the sugar. Beat together the eggs, soured cream and vanilla extract. Pour the chocolate and egg mixtures into the flour and sugar and beat well until smooth. Pour into the prepared tin and bake in the oven for about 40 minutes. Leave until completely cold before cutting and shaping.
• Cut the cake in half lengthways. Place one complete half on the 30cm cake board. Cut the remaining half into 3 rectangles, 13x10cm, 7x10cm and 10x10cm. Attach the 10x10cm piece to one end of the base cake using a little warm jam. Cut a 'V' shape to represent the prow of the ship. Place the 13x10 piece at the other end of the base cake, attaching with jam. Using jam again attach the 7x10 piece on top of the 13x10 piece to make the upper deck. Slice the back of the ship at a very slight angle.
• Brush the whole cake with jam. Roll out about 550g of the ready-to-roll icing and cover the cake. Trim the edges at the base and keep any trimmings.
• Melt the remaining 100g chocolate in the microwave or in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Use melted chocolate to stick the mini Toblerones to the edges of the two decks and to the 'V' shape of the prow. Trim any to fit exactly. Use the chocolate to stick on the chocolate balls for canon balls, finger biscuits stacked up as canons and chocolate caramels for port holes. Using a little of the marzipan, roll out and cut four windows. Make window frames from brown icing trimmings, rolling out to thin sausages to form a cross and sticking with chocolate. Attach to the sides of the ship with chocolate. Poke the chocolate stick out of the front of the prow, if using.
• Arrange the chocolate coins in a little pile on the cake board, reserving 3 or 4 coins for the top. Roll out the remaining brown icing and cover the coins completely. Brush with melted chocolate and sprinkle with muscovado sugar. Push 3 or 4 coins into the sand along with the chocolate skull if using.
• Put a little of the royal icing in a bowl. Colour the remainder blue. Spread the icing on the cake board around the ship and the island. Use the white icing to make 'surf' around the edge of the island.
• Using the remaining marzipan and brown icing, make three barrels. Place one on the deck of the ship and the others in the sea. Cut out sails from the paper and make holes in them so you can push the straws through. Attach the sails to the ship and poke sandwich flags out of the top to finish.

Steps:

• Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Fill paper-lined muffin cups half full. Drop 1/2 teaspoon pie filling in the center of each; top with remaining batter. , Bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the cake portion comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , Meanwhile, cut cake rolls lengthwise (do not cut through); set aside. Place two tablespoons frosting in a small bowl; set aside. Tint remaining frosting with blue food coloring if desired; frost cupcakes., Place a cake roll on each cupcake. Decorate with assorted candies. Tint reserved frosting with yellow food coloring if desired; place in a resealable plastic bag. Cut a small hole in a corner of bag; pipe latches onto chests.

Steps:

• Place cake on serving plate. Cut 3/4-inch-thick horizontal slice from top of cake using a serrated knife; set aside. With small knife, cut 1-inch wide and 1-inch deep tunnel inside center of cake; being careful not to cut through. Remove and save cutout for snack.
• Stir boiling water into 1 pkg. (4-serving size) dry Jell-O Brand Gelatin in bowl 2 minutes until dissolved. Add enough cold water to 1/2 cup ice to measure 3/4 cup; stir into gelatin until completely melted. Remove 1/2 cup of the gelatin mixture and place in separate medium bowl. Add whipped topping; stir with wire whisk until well blended. Refrigerate 10 to 15 minutes or until thick enough to spread.
• Meanwhile, refrigerate remaining plain gelatin 5 to 10 minutes or until thickened. Stir in 3/4 cup of the strawberries; spoon into tunnel of cake. Replace top of cake. Frost cake with reserved thickened whipped topping and gelatin mixture. Garnish top with remaining strawberries.