Irish Chocolate Cake Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, 1/2 cup Irish whiskey, and oil. Add eggs and beat at medium speed with an electric mixer for 4 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Spoon into greased and floured 10-inch Bundt or tube pan.
• Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for about 45 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. When cake is almost done, prepare syrup. Combine sugar, butter, water, and lemon juice in a small heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil slowly, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in remaining 1/4 cup Irish whiskey.
• Turn cake out onto two large sheets of aluminum foil placed together to form the shape of a cross. Let cake cool for 10 minutes, top side up for tube cake and upside down for Bundt cake. Using a skewer, make holes all over top and sides of hot cake. Drizzle syrup very slowly over cake, being careful that too much does not run into any cracks on top of cake. Bring foil up around cake and wrap securely.
• Cake may be served when completely cool, or store in an airtight container overnight. Cake may be wrapped securely in foil and stored in the refrigerator for several weeks or in a freezer for up to six months. Serve with whipped cream.

Steps:

• You should prepare the chocolate cake according to the directions on the cake box, but use cold coffee instead of water. Bake the cake in a 9 x 13 inch cake pan. After baking use a fork to poke holes evenly over the top of the cake. Set the cake aside to cool slightly while you prepare the coffee/whiskey syrup.
• Mix the sugar and 1/4 cup of the strong coffee. Bring to a boil and boil 1 minute. Allow to cool till warm, but not hot. Stir in whiskey and pour over the top of the slightly cooled cake. Cover the cake and allow it to cool completely.
• Once the cake has cooled completely, mix the remaining 1/4 cup HOT coffee and the tub of cream cheese frosting. It will be almost pourable and much easier to spread. Pour the frosting over the top of the cake, cover and place in the fridge to set frosting.
• *I chose to dust the top of the frosting very lightly with some powdered instant coffee (optional).

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F
• Grease and line 8-inch cake tins.
• Sift flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Melt chocolate in a bowl placed over a saucepan of hot water.
• In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar together until fluffy, then beat in the chocolate and mashed potato.
• Gradually beat in the egg, adding a little flour with each addition.
• Fold in the rest of the flour and stir in the milk.
• Divide mixture between cake tins and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until top is firm but springy to the touch.
• Remove from oven and after a few minutes, turn out on a cooling rack.
• While the cake is cooling, make the icing. Melt the chocolate as before, stir in the other ingredients and mix well.
• Use the icing to sandwich the cake layers together and coat the top and sides of the cake.
• HINT: What makes this rich chocolate cake "Irish" is not only to the creamy liqueur used in the filling, but also a particularly "Irish" ingredient in the cake mixture itself, which makes it extremely moist. Have you guessed it yet? Yes, it's the potato! Mystery solved! Bet you were wondering what potatoes were doing in a cake recipe! Even Irish dessert recipes make use of this abundant Irish crop!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F (gas mark 5), and grease and line two 8" cake pans.
• Sift flour and salt into a mixing bowl.
• Melt chocolate in a bowl placed over a saucepan of hot water.
• In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar together until fluffy, then beat in the chocolate and mashed potato.
• Gradually beat in the eggs, adding a little flour with each addition.
• Fold in the rest of the flour and stir in the milk.
• Divide mixture evenly between the cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes or until top is firm but springy to the touch.
• Remove from oven and after a few minutes, turn out on a cooling rack.
• While the cake is cooling, melt the chocolate for the filling as before.
• Stir in the other ingredients and mix well.
• Use the filling to sandwich the sponge layers together and coat the top and sides of the cake.

Steps:

• For the chocolate stout cake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan with the room temperature butter, then line it with parchment paper.
• Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Combine the stout, melted butter, vanilla extract and vinegar in a separate large bowl and mix well. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
• For the Irish cream frosting: Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix on low speed until smooth and combined. Add 1 tablespoon of the Irish cream liqueur and mix until smooth and spreadable, 2 to 3 minutes. You can add another tablespoon of liqueur if needed to get the right consistency--it should be smooth but still thick enough to spread.
• Remove the cake from the pan and spread the frosting on top. Use a vegetable peeler to shave the chocolate over the top. Serve.

Steps:

• Combine cake mix and 2 tablespoons of the instant espresso powder. Prepare and bake the cake according to the package directions for a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Cool completely on a wire rack. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke 25 holes in the cake (make 5 rows of 5).
• Whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, pudding mix, 1/2 cup of the heavy cream and 1/2 cup liqueur in a medium bowl for 2 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes for the pudding to set.
• Meanwhile, stir together the remaining 2 tablespoons liqueur and remaining 1 tablespoon espresso powder in a small bowl until the powder dissolves. Whip the remaining 1 1/2 cups heavy cream together with the confectioners' sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes. Add the espresso liqueur mixture and whip just to incorporate.
• Spread the pudding mixture over the top of the cake, making sure the holes get filled completely. Spread the whipped cream evenly over the surface. Chill at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
• About 30 minutes before serving, melt the chocolate chips in a microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until soft. Let cool slightly. Drizzle over the top of the cake, then sprinkle with the chopped espresso beans and serve cold.

Steps:

• Mousse:
• Whisk eggs and sugar in large metal bowl. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water) and whisk constantly until candy thermometer registers 160°F., about 5 minutes. Remove bowl from over water. Using electric mixer, beat egg mixture until cool and very thick, about 10 minutes.
• Place chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water; stir until melted and smooth. Remove chocolate from over water. Cool to luke warm.
• Combine cream and Irish cream liqueur in medium bowl; beat to stiff peaks. Pour luke warm melted chocolate over egg mixture and fold together. Fold in cream mixture. Cover and chill until set, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Syrup:
• Combine sugar and water in small saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to boil. Remove from heat. Mix in whiskey. Cool. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and let stand at room temperature.)
• Cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Line bottom with parchment paper. Using electric mixer, beat eggs, sugar, espresso powder and salt in large bowl until mixture thickens and slowly dissolving ribbon forms when beaters are lifted, about 8 minutes. Sift 1/3 of flour over and gently fold into egg mixture. Repeat 2 more times (do not overmix or batter may deflate.)
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool cake completely in pan on rack.
• Run small sharp knife around pan sides to loosen cake. Release pan sides. Turn out cake. Remove pan bottom. Peel off parchment. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Wrap cake in plastic and chill.)
• Assembly:
• Using serrated knife, cut cake horizontally into 3 layers. Place bottom cake layer on platter. Brush with 3 tablespoons syrup. Spread 2 cups mousse over. Top with second cake layer. Brush with 3 tablespoons syrup. Spread 2 cups mousse over. Top with third cake layer, cut side down. Brush with 3 tablespoons syrup. Spread remaining mousse over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate cake while preparing chocolate bands.
• Chocolate Bands:
• Line large baking sheet with foil and set aside. Place another large sheet of foil on work surface; top with waxed paper strips, spacing apart. Stir chopped semisweet chocolate and vegetable shortening in heavy small saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Pour half of melted chocolate down center of each waxed paper strip. Using metal icing spatula, spread chocolate to cover strips evenly and completely, allowing some chocolate to extend beyond edges of paper strips. Using fingertips, lift strips and place on clean foil-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate just until chocolate begins to set but is still very flexible, about 2 minutes.
• Remove chocolate bands from refrigerator. Using fingertips, lift 1 band from foil. With chocolate side next to cake, place band around side of cake; press gently to adhere (band will be higher than cake). Repeat with second chocolate band, pressing onto uncovered side of cake so that ends of chocolate bands just meet (if ends overlap, use scissors to trim any excess paper and chocolate). Refrigerate until chocolate sets, about 5 minutes. Gently peel off paper. Refrigerate cake.
• Chocolate curls:
• Line baking sheet with foil. Unwrap 1 square of chocolate. Place chocolate on its paper wrapper in microwave. Cook on High just until chocolate begins to soften slightly, about 1 minute (time will vary depending on power of microwave). Turn chocolate square onto 1 side and hold in hand. Working over foil-lined sheet, pull vegetable peeler along sides of chocolate, allowing chocolate curls to fall gently onto foil. Form as many curls as possible. Repeat process with remaining chocolate squares. Place curls decoratively atop cake, mounding slightly. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Refrigerate cake.)
• Sift powdered sugar over chocolate curls before serving cake.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a large bowl, mix together the cookie crumbs, confectioners' sugar and 1/3 cup cocoa. Add melted butter and stir until well mixed. Pat into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes; set aside. Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, white sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa and flour. Beat at medium speed until well blended and smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in the sour cream and Irish cream liqueur; mixing on low speed. Pour filling over baked crust.
• Bake at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C), and continue baking for 60 minutes.
• With a knife, loosen cake from rim of pan. Let cool, then remove the rim of pan. Chill before serving. If your cake cracks, a helpful tip is to dampen a spatula and smooth the top, then sprinkle with some chocolate wafer crumbs.

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Rub the bottom of a 9-inch tart pan with a removeable bottom with shortening or butter and place a circle of parchment paper to cover the bottom. Lightly spray the tart pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Pulse the sandwich cookies in a food processor until fine crumbs form. You should have about 1 3/4 cups. Combine the cookie crumbs with the confectioners' sugar, melted butter and salt in a medium bowl (or pulse in the food processor) until combined. Transfer to the tart pan. Press the crumb mixture evenly up the sides of the pan to make about a 1/4-inch-thick crust, then press the remaining crumbs into the bottom. (Use a flat-bottomed glass to press the crust tightly along the bottom and sides.) Place on a sheet tray and bake for 12 minutes until the crust looks dry. (It may puff a bit-that is OK.) Set aside to cool completely.
• For the filling: Whip the cream in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment to medium peaks. Transfer the whipped cream to a medium bowl and refrigerate.
• Add the water to a small microwave-safe bowl and sprinkle the gelatin evenly over the top. Set aside to allow the gelatin to bloom and absorb the water.
• In the same bowl used for the whipped cream, whip the cream cheese on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the confectioners' sugar, Irish cream, vanilla and salt. Whip on low to combine. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula, then whip on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape the bowl and mix again if needed to smooth out the mixture.
• Melt the gelatin in the microwave in 10 second intervals, swirling the bowl after each. It should take about 20 seconds until it is melted and clear. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture into the hot gelatin and stir until smooth. Working quickly, pour the gelatin into the cream cheese mixture and blend on low to combine, then raise the speed to medium and mix until the mixture is slightly thickened, about 10 seconds.
• Remove the whipped cream from the refrigerator and use a spatula to fold it into the cream cheese mixture in thirds. Pour the filling into the cooled tart shell, smooth the top and sprinkle the gold sugar pearls over the tart. Place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 8 hours and up to overnight. You can cover the tart by inverting a large bowl over top or by placing the tart pan in a 10-inch or larger cake pan and covering the cake pan with foil.
• For the topping: Once the tart is completely chilled, put the softened cream cheese and confectioners' sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and use a rubber spatula to mix until smooth. Add a couple drops of green gel food coloring and a splash of the heavy cream and mix with the spatula to loosen the mixture. Add the remaining heavy cream, Irish cream and vanilla. Secure the bowl to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whip on medium speed until medium-stiff peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes. Adjust the green color as desired.
• Finish the tart. Unmold the tart by pushing the bottom of the tart pan up and out of the ring. Slide an offset spatula under the tart to loosen it from the removable bottom and parchment and transfer it to a serving platter. Put the whipped cream in a piping bag fitted with a large star tip (or simply cut a 1/2-inch opening at the base of the bag) and pipe swirls of whip cream along the edge of the tart. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips over the whipped cream. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator up to 1 day.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Combine chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon cake flour in a small bowl, toss. Set aside.
• Lightly spoon 2 3/4 cups cake flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• Place Cream cheese and butter in large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed to blend. Add sugars and vanilla; beat until well blended.
• Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. With mixer on low, add flour mixture and liqueur alternatively to sugar mixture beginning and ending with flour mixture; beat well after each addition. Fold chocolate chips. POur batter in a 12 cup bundt pan coated with baking spray.
• Bake for 55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comers out clean.
• Cool 10 minutes on wire eack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Sift powdered sugar over cake.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Spray 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat all cake ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed 5 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally, until well blended. Pour batter into pans. Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove cakes from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely.
• In large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low. Add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating until blended. Add 1/4 cup liqueur and 1 teaspoon vanilla; beat until frosting is smooth and spreadable.
• Place 1 cake layer on serving plate; spread with one-third of the frosting. Top with second layer. Frost side and top of cake with thin layer of frosting to seal in crumbs. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Frost cake with remaining frosting.
• Place chopped chocolate in small bowl. In small saucepan, heat whipping cream over medium heat until bubbles form around edge. Pour warm cream over chocolate; let stand 1 minute. Stir with whisk until chocolate is melted. Add corn syrup and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Stir until smooth. Let stand 10 minutes or until thickened.
• Pour glaze on top of cake, letting some glaze drip down side. Sprinkle almonds around edge of cake. Store in refrigerator.

Steps:

• Whisk eggs and sugar in large metal bowl. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water) and whisk constantly until candy thermometer registers 60°F, about 5 minutes.
• Remove bowl from over water. Using electric mixer, beat egg mixture until cool and very thick, about 10 minutes.
• Place chocolate in top of another bowl over simmering water; stir until melted and smooth. Remove bowl from over water. Cool to lukewarm.
• Combine cream and Irish cream liqueur in medium bowl; beat to stiff peaks. Pour lukewarm melted chocolate over egg mixture and fold together. Fold in cream mixture. Cover and chill until set, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Cake
• 6 large eggs
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder or coffee powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Line bottom with parchment paper. Using electric mixer, beat eggs, sugar, espresso powder and salt in large bowl until mixture thickens and slowly dissolving ribbon forms when beaters are lifted, about 8 minutes. Sift 1/3 of flour over and gently fold into egg mixture. Repeat 2 more times (do not overmix or batter may deflate).
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool cake completely in pan on rack.
• Run small sharp knife around pan sides to loosen cake. Release pan sides. Turn out cake. Remove pan bottom. Peel off parchment. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Wrap cake in plastic and chill.)
• Syrup
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 5 tablespoons water
• 5 tablespoons Irish whiskey
• Combine sugar and water in small saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to boil. Remove from heat. Mix in whiskey. Cool. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and let stand at room temperature.)
• Assembly
• Using serrated knife, cut cake horizontally into 3 layers. Place bottom cake layer on platter. Brush with 3 tablespoons syrup. Spread 2 cups mousse over. Top with second cake layer. Brush with 3 tablespoons syrup. Spread 2 cups mousse over. Top with third cake layer, cut side down. Brush with 3 tablespoons syrup. Spread remaining mousse over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate cake while preparing chocolate bands.
• Chocolate Bands
• 2 14 1/2 x 3-inch waxed paper strips
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon solid vegetable shortening
• Line large basket sheet with foil and set aside. Place another large sheet of foil on work surface; top with waxed paper strips, spacing apart. Stir chopped semisweet chocolate and vegetable shortening in heavy, small saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Pour half of melted chocolate down center of each waxed paper strip.
• Using metal icing spatula, spread chocolate to cover strips evenly and completely, allowing some chocolate to extend beyond edges of paper strips. Using fingertips, lift strips and place on clean foil-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate just until chocolate begins to set but is still very flexible, about 2 minutes.
• Remove chocolate bands from refrigerator. Using fingertips, lift 1 band from foil. With chocolate side next to cake, place band around side of cake; press gently to adhere (band will be taller than cake). Repeat with second chocolate band, pressing onto uncovered side of cake so that ends of chocolate bands just meet (if ends overlap, use scissors to trim any excess paper and chocolate). Refrigerate until chocolate sets, about 5 minutes. Gently peel off paper. Refrigerate cake.
• Chocolate Curls
• 12 1-ounce squares semisweet baking chocolate
• Powdered sugar
• Line baking sheet with foil. Unwrap 1 square of chocolate. Place chocolate on its paper wrapper in microwave. Cook on High just until chocolate begins to soften slightly, about 1 minute (time will vary depending on power of microwave). Turn chocolate square onto 1 side and hold in hand. Working over foil-lined sheet, pull vegetable peeler along sides of chocolate, allowing chocolate curls to fall gently onto foil. Form as many curls as possible. Repeat process with remaining chocolate squares. Place curls decoratively atop cake, mounding slightly. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Refrigerate cake.) Sift powdered sugar over chocolate curls before serving cake.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans. Place waxed paper over a large wire cooling rack. Place a 3-quart mixing bowl in the freezer.
• Mix flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.
• Place unsweetened chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Beat eggs in a bowl until thick and lemon-colored, about 5 minutes.
• Remove cold bowl from the freezer and pour in chilled whipping cream; beat until stiff. Fold in eggs, melted chocolate, and vanilla extract. Add flour mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time, folding gently after each addition, until blended. Pour into the prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Invert layers carefully onto the prepared cooling rack and let cool completely, about 30 minutes. Poke holes in the top of the cakes with a skewer or long-tined fork.
• Stir whiskey, coffee granules, and 2 tablespoons sugar together in a small bowl until coffee is dissolved. Pour 1/2 of the coffee-whiskey mixture over each layer. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine whiskey and coffee granules for the frosting in a large bowl; stir until coffee is dissolved. Add butter and vanilla extract and beat until combined. Gradually mix in powdered sugar on medium speed until smooth. Transfer 1/2 cup of frosting to a pastry bag fitted with an open star tip (#32 or #4B); set aside. Use the remaining frosting to fill layers and frost sides and top of cake.
• Place chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, then transfer to a small pastry bag fitted with a medium-sized writing tip.
• Pipe chocolate in a lattice design across the top of the cake. Pipe a shell border or rosettes around the top edge.