Marvelous Cannoli Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Bake two 8-inch round cakes according to the package directions. Cool completely. Cut a parchment sheet into four 3-by-12-inch strips and set aside.
• Meanwhile, combine the butter, sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on the lowest speed until the sugar is incorporated into the butter. Add the vanilla, increase speed to medium-high and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. With the mixer running on medium high, add the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the frosting is smooth and spreadable.
• To make the filling, remove 2 cups of the frosting and place in a medium bowl. Add the cinnamon and mini chocolate chips and stir until combined. Reserve remaining frosting.
• Using a serrated knife, trim the top of each cake to make level and straight. Line the edges of a cake stand with the parchment strips (to keep it clean when you frost and glaze the cake with chocolate). Place one cake in the center of the cake stand. Using a small offset spatula, spread the chocolate filling evenly over the top of the cake. Top with the second cake.
• With a large offset spatula, spread 3/4 cup of the reserved frosting in a thin layer on the top and sides of the cake. This is called a crumb coat. Place the cake in the freezer until the frosting is set, about 30 minutes.
• Once chilled, remove the cake from the freezer and spread with all but 1/2 cup of the remaining frosting. Smooth the sides and top of the cake using the offset spatula or a bench scraper. Return to the freezer for another 30 minutes to set the frosting.
• Meanwhile, make the ganache by placing the semi-sweet chocolate chips in a small heatproof bowl. Heat the cream until hot but not boiling. Pour over the chocolate and let sit for 5 minutes, then stir until smooth and glossy.
• Remove the cake from the freezer and pour the ganache over the top. Use the back of a spoon to completely cover the top, allowing some of the chocolate to spill over the sides in a drip pattern.
• Place the remaining 1/2 cup frosting in a pastry bag fitted with a medium star tip. Pipe rosettes on the chocolate around the top edge of the cake, spacing them about 1/2 inch apart. Place one end of a cannoli on each rosette, so the opposite ends meet in the center of the cake. Remove the parchment strips from beneath the cake and serve.

Steps:

• 1. Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions, using two greased and floured 9 inch round baking pans. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
• 2. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, confectioners sugar, cinnamon and extracts;stir in finely chopped chocolate. In another bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese, confectioners sugar, milk and extracts until smooth;cover and refrigerate filling and frosting until frosting reaches spreading consistency.
• 3. Place one cake layer on a serving plate;spread with 1 cup filling. Top with second cake layer. Spread remaining filling over top to within one inch of edges. Frost sides and top edge of cake with 2 cups of frosting.
• 4. Press almonds into sides of cake;pipe remaining frosting around edges,sprinkly chocolate chips over top. Refrigerate until serving.

Steps:

• FOR THE CAKE: Begin early in day or day ahead to make Cannoli Cake.
• Preheat oven to 375°F In small bowl, with mixer at high speed, beat egg whites until soft peaks form; gradually sprinkle in 1/2 cup sugar, beating until sugar completely dissolves and whites stand in stiff peaks.
• In large bowl, using same beaters and with mixer at low speed, beat egg yolks, flour, baking powder, salt, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 2 Tablespoons water until blended. With rubber spatula, gently fold beaten egg whites into egg-yolk mixture, one-third at a time.
• Spoon batter into UNGREASED 10 inch by 3 inch springform pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until cake is golden and top springs back when lightly touched.
• Invert cake in pan on wire rack; cool completely in pan.
• FOR BRUSHING CAKE LAYERS: From oranges, grate 2 teaspoons peel (use the rest of peel for the filling) and squeeze 1/3 cup juice (IF NOT USING LIQUEUR, INCREASE JUICE TO 1/2 CUP). Stir liqueur into 1/3 cup juice; set aside.
• FOR THE FILLING: In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat ricotta, cream cheese, rest of the grated orange peel, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth. Stir in 1/4 cup semisweet-chocolate mini pieces.
• With metal spatula, loosen cake from edge of pan; remove pan side. Loosen cake from pan bottom; remove pan bottom. With serrated knife, cut cake horizontally into 2 layers. Brush orange-juice mixture evenly over cut side of both layers.
• Place bottom cake layer, cut-side up, on cake plate. Spoon ricotta-cheese filling on center of cake layer. Spread some filling out to edge, leaving a center rounded to achieve a dome effect.
• Cut a small wedge out of remaining cake layer; and gently rest cake layer over filling. (Cutting wedge will allow cake layer to bend, without cracking, to fit over dome shape.).
• PREPARE VANILLA-CREAM FROSTING: In small bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat 3 Tablespoons margarine or butter, softened, 3 Tablespoons milk, 1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, and 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth, adding more milk if necessary until mixture has an easy spreading consistency. In large bowl, using same beaters and with mixer at medium speed, beat 2 cups heavy or whipping cream until stiff peaks form; fold confectioners'-sugar mixture into whipped cream. Spread over top and down side of cake.
• In a heavy small saucepan over low heat, heat remaining 1/3 cup mini pieces, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth.
• Into waxed-paper cone, spoon melted chocolate. (Or, use small decorating bag with small writing tube.) With chocolate, make feather design.
• Refrigerate cake until filling is firm for easier cutting, about 3 hours.
• TO MAKE WAXED-PAPER CONE: Cut square of waxed paper; fold in half into triangle. Lay triangle on flat surface so wide side is at top. Fold left-hand corner down to center point. Take right-hand corner; wrap it completely around folded left-hand corner, forming cone. Both corners meet at center point of original triangle. Fold in these ends twice to hold together. Fill cone two thirds full; fold top over.
• MAKING FEATHER DESIGN: Piping circles on Cake: Using paper cone with tip cup to make 1/8 inch diameter hole, pipe melted chocolate on top of cake in concentric circles, starting in center and moving to edge of cake. Start with small circle in the middle of cake and go around each circle to the edge. This should be 6 circles.
• Drawing spokes towards center: Before chocolate hardens, quickly with tip of toothpick or small knife, draw lines in spoke fashion, about 1 1/2 inches apart around edge of cake; alternate direction of each spoke, first from edge to center of cake, then from center to edge.
• Completing feather design: Continue around top of cake, alternating direction of each spoke to make attractive feather design. 16 servings.
• The Good Housekeeping Book of Desserts.