Martha Louise Stewarts Chocolate Icing Recipes

Steps:

• Place chocolate in a large heatproof bowl. Bring cream and corn syrup just to a simmer over medium-high heat; pour mixture over chocolate. Let stand, without stirring, until chocolate begins to melt.
• Beginning near the center and working outward, stir melted chocolate into cream until mixture is combined and smooth (do not overstir).
• Refrigerate, stirring every 5 minutes, until frosting just barely begins to hold its shape and is slightly lighter in color. Use immediately (ganache will continue to thicken after you stop stirring).

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese and butter with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Sift together sugar, cocoa powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; gradually beat into cream cheese mixture. With machine running, pour in melted chocolate in a slow, steady stream. Beat in creme fraiche until well combined. If frosting doesn't seem firm enough, refrigerate for 10 minutes. Beat before using.

Steps:

• Cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush a 9-by-13-inch or 8-by-12-inch baking pan with butter. Line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on long sides. Butter parchment.
• Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Combine eggs and granulated sugar in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed until thick and pale, about 4 minutes. Add flour mixture; beat just to combine. Add butter and vanilla; beat to combine. Add sour cream; beat until smooth.
• Scrape batter into prepared pan, smoothing top with a spatula. Bake until top springs back when lightly touched and a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes (for 9-by-13-inch) or about 40 minutes (for 8-by-12).
• Let cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes. Using parchment overhangs, lift cake out of pan and let cool completely on rack. (Cake can be made to this point and stored at room temperature, wrapped in plastic, up to 1 day.)
• Frosting: Beat butter and peanut butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in confectioners' sugar until thick and fluffy. Remove from mixer; stir in sour cream by hand until frosting is silky and dense. Spread over cake; sprinkle top with peanuts. Frosted cake is best the day it's assembled, but can be refrigerated, wrapped in plastic, up to 1 day. Return to room temperature before serving.

Steps:

• Place chocolate morsels and cream in a heavy saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula, until combined and thickened, between 20 and 25 minutes. Increase the heat to medium low; cook, stirring, 3 minutes more. Remove pan from heat.
• Stir in corn syrup. Transfer frosting to a large metal bowl. Chill until cool enough to spread, about 2 hours, checking and stirring every 15 to 20 minutes. Use immediately.

Steps:

• Whisk together sugar and egg whites in a heatproof mixing bowl. Place over a pot of simmering water; whisk constantly until sugar is completely dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. With an electric mixer, whisk on high speed until cool (test by touching bottom of bowl), 7 to 10 minutes.
• Change to the paddle attachment. With mixer on medium-high speed, add butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, until combined. Beat in chocolate.

Steps:

• Place the milk and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, and heat until butter is melted. Transfer to a medium heat-proof bowl; add the vanilla extract, confectioners' sugar, and cocoa powder. Stir until combined.

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat egg with 1 cup sugar on low speed. With mixer running, add 1/2 cup sugar and cocoa into egg mixture; mix well. Add remaining 1 cup sugar, vanilla, and butter; beat to combine.

Steps:

• Beat together cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until smooth. Sift together confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Gradually beat sugar mixture into cream-cheese mixture, and beat until combined. Slowly pour in melted chocolate as you continue to beat. Add sour cream, and beat until smooth. Use immediately. Or refrigerate, covered, up to 3 days; bring to room temperature, and beat with a mixer on low speed until smooth before using.

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine heavy cream and chocolate and heat over medium heat until chocolate has melted. Remove from heat and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.
• Place heavy cream mixture in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat until thick and spreadable. Use immediately.

Steps:

• Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring. Remove from heat, and keep warm.
• Put egg whites and sugar into the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk until sugar has dissolved and mixture reaches 110 degrees. Attach bowl to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed until fluffy and completely cool.
• Switch to the paddle attachment. On medium-low speed, add butter, 2 pieces at a time, beating until combined after each addition. Beat in chocolate. Raise speed to high, and beat until smooth, about 5 minutes. Beat on low speed to eliminate air bubbles. Buttercream can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days or frozen up to 1 month; bring to room temperature, and beat on low speed until smooth.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat eggs on low speed. Add oil and sugar, beating for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add egg mixture, beating just until combined. Stir in pecans and vanilla.
• Pour batter into prepared baking dish. Bake until edges just start to pull away from pan, about 35 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Spread icing over brownies; allow to set before serving.