Saturday, March 8, 2014

Saturday Chocolate Recipe

There used to be a restaurant in Emerald Isle, NC, which specialised in custard ice cream which was delicious. They also served a many layer (7 I think) chocolate cake which was to die for.

Ultimate Chocolate Layer Cake


Cooking.com


Serves 12

This delicious layer cake is the essence of chocolate and would be welcome as the centerpiece of any party or gathering. The cake batter is versatile and can be used to make other desserts. Here the layers are combined with a rich chocolate frosting.

Ultimate Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe at Cooking.com
INGREDIENTS

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
1 3/4 cup cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water
Chocolate cream Frosting (click for recipe)
Garnish
1 1/4 cups finely shaved bittersweet or semisweet chocolate for garnish, optional

DIRECTIONS

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350° F.
 
Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch high sides. Line with parchment paper; butter paper. Dust pans with flour; tap out excess. Melt chocolate in top of double boiler over barely simmering water, stirring with rubber spatula until smooth. Cool to lukewarm, stirring often. Sift cake flour, baking soda and salt into medium bowl.

Using electric stand mixer and flat beater attachment, beat butter until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add both sugars, beating until creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in vanilla. Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula. Beat in melted chocolate; blend well. Add flour mixture alternately with sour cream in 2 additions, beating well after each addition. Add dissolved espresso; blend thoroughly.

Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean and cake just begins to pull away from sides of pan, about 30 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 5 minutes. Turn out cakes onto racks; peel off parchment paper. Cool cakes completely.

DO-AHEAD TIP: Cakes can be baked 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

Fill pastry bag fitted with large open star tip with 1/2 cup frosting; set aside. Slice each cake horizontally in half. Place one cake layer, flat side up, on 9-inch-diameter cardboard round. Spread 1/2 cup frosting over cake. Top with second cake layer, flat side down. Spread 1/2 cup frosting over top of cake. Repeat layering with remaining 2 cake layers and 1/2 cup frosting. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Press chocolate shavings onto sides of cake. Pipe frosting from pastry bag decoratively around top edge of cake. Lightly sprinkle chocolate shavings over cake. Cover cake with cake dome. Refrigerate 20 minutes before serving.

DO-AHEAD TIP: Assembled cake can be made 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.

Have a great weekend
Jo

4 comments:

  1. This recipe sounds really yummy! Your description of the restaurant's cake reminded me of a traditional cake from Smith Island, MD I read about called a Smith Island Cake: 10 paper thin layers of cake separated by frosting. And now I am totally craving cake.

    I found your blog through the A to Z Challenge. Thanks for sharing this great recipe!

    Hungry Enough To Eat Six

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    1. Now you are making me hungry for cake. Smith Island Cake sounds wonderful.

      Thanks for dropping by, always nice to see new Challengers.

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  2. Sour cream in a cake? That's new to me.

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    Replies
    1. To me that's a fairly normal ingredient. Had a friend who used to make tomato soup cake. It was delicious and no, it didn't taste of tomato soup.

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