Best Chocolate Cake
October 21, 2009 by Firehouse Chef
Filed under Baked, Baking, Buffet, Dessert, Easy, Easy Baking Recipes, Snack
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Best Chocolate Cake - This super succulent, three layer, chocolate cake recipe is the “BEST”. Made secretly simple by starting with devils food cake mix, we tossed in some chocolate chips, for more decadence. Oven baked in only 25 minutes, this old fashioned cake is delicious!
Prep Time: 10 mins |
Ingredients to make Best Chocolate Cake
1 box devil’s food cake mix (1 pound 2.25 ounces)
1 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
2 12-ounce packages semisweet chocolate chips (4 cups)
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups powdered sugar
Directions to make Best Chocolate Cake
Step 1:Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter three 8-inch-diameter nonstick cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Place devil\’s food cake mix, 1 cup water, 1/3 cup vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla extract and 1/4 cup sour cream in large bowl. Using electric mixer, beat batter 2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips.
Step 2:Divide batter among prepared pans (about 1 3/4 cups batter for each). Bake until tester inserted into center of cake layers comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cake layers in pans on racks 15 minutes. Run small sharp knife between pan sides and cake layers to loosen. Turn out onto racks; cool completely. Bring 1/2 cup raspberry jam and 3 tablespoons unsalted butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat, stirring often. Remove from heat. Add remaining 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips and stir until melted. Add remaining 3/4 cup sour cream and 2 cups powdered sugar. Using electric mixer, beat frosting in pan until smooth and thick, about 2 minutes.
Step 3:Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread 3/4 cup frosting over. Top with second cake layer. Spread 3/4 cup frosting over. Top with third cake layer. Chill cake until frosting sets slightly, about 15 minutes. Spread remaining frosting in swirls over top and sides of cake. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and let stand at room temperature.)
Image Source: Charles Haynes
Brownie Pecan Pie
June 12, 2009 by Firehouse Chef
Filed under Baked, Dessert, Easy, Easy Baking Recipes, Snack
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Brownie Pecan Pie - This delectable dessert is everything you love about pecan pie, baked on a rich brownie! Easy to make, it is universally loved, and extra sweet, for those times when you just have to satisfy that chocolate craving.
Prep Time: 10 mins |
Ingredients to make Brownie Pecan Pie
2/3 cup Sugar
1/8 teaspoon Salt
1 cup Light corn syrup
4 ounces Sweet cooking chocolate
3 tablespoons Butter
3 Eggs,beaten
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 cup Pecans
1 Unbaked pie shell
Directions to make Brownie Pecan Pie
Step 1:Combine sugar, salt and cyrup in saucepan. Bring to a boil. Boil 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
Step 2:Stir in chocolate and butter and stir until melted and smooth. Cool. Gradually beat chocolate mixture into beaten eggs, stirring constantly. Mix well. Add vanilla and pecans.
Step 3:Pour into pie shell.Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.Cool.
Image Source: robotsari
Chocolate Cheesecake with Amaretto-Amaretti
June 12, 2009 by Firehouse Chef
Filed under Baked, Dessert, Easy, Easy Baking Recipes, Snack
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Chocolate Cheesecake with Amaretto-Amaretti - Cheesecake has always been a popular dessert, and we tried to make this one really stand out. Featuring chocolate,amaretto and amaretti, they don’t get much sweeter than this. It really is quite a distinctive flavor we know you will adore this easy baking recipe.Prep Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins Main Ingredient: Chocolate, Cheesecake Difficulty Level: 3 |
Ingredients to make Chocolate Cheesecake with Amaretto-Amaretti
CRUST:
7 oz Amaretti (see note)
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 oz unsweetened chocolate,1 sqare
5 Tbsp sweet butter
FILLING
6 oz semisweet chocolate
7 oz Amaretti
4 oz almond paste
1/3 cup Amaretto liqueur
1 1/2 lb cream cheese
1/4 cup granulated sugar at room temperature
4 eggs (large or extra-large)
1/2 cup heavy cream
Directions to make Chocolate Cheesecake with Amaretto-Amaretti
Step 1:(CRUST) Butter the sides only (not the bottom) of a 9-inch spring-form pan (2 1/2-3 inches deep). Grind the Amaretti very fine in a food processor or blender. Mix with sugar in a mixing bowl. Melt the chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler, stirring occasionally. Add the melted mixture to the Amaretti crumbs and sugar and mix thoroughly. (Don’t wash the double boiler; you’ll be using it again in a minute.) Turn the mixture into the prepared pan. With your fingers, distribute it evenly over the bottom and press it down into a very firm, compact layer. Refrigerate while you prepare the filling.
Step 2:(FILLING) Adjust rack 1/3 up from the bottom of the oven and preheat to 350 deg. F. Partially melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler, then uncover and stir until completely melted. Remove the top of the double boiler and set aside to cool. Break the Amaretti coarsely into a bowl and set aside. Cut the almond paste into small pieces, and beat on low speed with an electric mixer, while gradually adding the Amaretto liqueur. Beat until thoroughly mixed, and set aside.
Step 3:the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and beat until smooth again. Add the almond paste-Amaretto mixture and beat until thoroughly mixed. Add the melted chocolate and beat well again. Add the eggs one at a time, beating at low speed until they are incorporated after each addition. Add the heavy cream and beat until smooth. Add the coarsely broken Amaretti and stir gently only to mix. Turn into the prepared pan, pouring the mixture over the bottom crust. Rotate the pan gently to level the batter. (Don’t worry if the mixture comes almost to the top; it won’t run over.) Bake 45 minutes. It will seem soft and not done, but don’t bake any more; it will become firm when chilled.
Step 4:NOTES Amaretti are Italian almond-flavored wafer cookies. They are usually sold in metal tins with the wafers wrapped in packages of two inside the tin. You can also buy Amarettini, which are the same flavor but much smaller and not individually wrapped. Since you’re going to grind some of the wafers and break the others into chunks, it doesn’t matter which size you start with.
Image Source: ginnerobot
Best Boston Cream Pie
June 12, 2009 by Firehouse Chef
Filed under Baked, Dessert, Easy Baking Recipes, Snack
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Best Boston Cream Pie - If you look forward to spending your days off baking, and creating beautiful, delicious desserts, here’s a great one! This gives instructions on how to make all of it from scratch, so it does require some work, but don’t let that discourage you.Prep Time: 30 mins Main Ingredient: Cake, Berries Difficulty Level: 4 |
Ingredients to make Best Boston Cream Pie
WHITE CHOC. PASTRY CREAM
2 c Milk
1/4 c Cornstarch
1 Vanilla bean,split,lengthwise
6 lg Egg yolks
6 oz White chocolate,finely chopped
3/4 c Plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 tb Unsalted butter
GENOISE CAKE
7 lg Eggs
1 1/2 c All-purpose flour
7 lg Egg yolks
7 tb Unsalted butter,melted
1 c Granulated sugar
GANACHE
3/4 c Heavy cream
1 lb Semisweet chocolate,finelt chopped
3 tb Water
Directions to make Best Boston Cream Pie
Step 1:PASTRY CREAM: In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring the milk and the vanilla bean to a boil. Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl, mix together the sugar and the cornstarch so that no lumps of starch remain. Mix in the egg yolks, and using a wire whisk, whisk together until the mixture is combined. When the milk comes to a boil, slowly whisk half of it into the egg mixture. Pour the contents of the bowl back into the saucepan with the remaining milk and whisk continuously over medium heat until thick, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the chopped white chocolate and the butter, and continue mixing until both melt. Strain the mixture into a medium bowl and cover it with plastic wrap, so that the wrap covers the surface of the cream. Refrigerate until well chilled, at least 1 hour. This may be made one day in advance.
Step 2:GENOISE CAKE: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350F. Line the bottoms of two 13 1/2 x 9 1/2-inch baking pans with nt or waxed paper. Lightly butter the parchment. Flour the pans lightly, shaking off any excess. In the 4 1/2-quart bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer, place the eggs, yolks and sugar. Place the bowl over a pot of simmering water on the stove and whisk constantly until the eggs are just warm. Return the bowl to the mixer stand, and using a wire whip attachment, whip the egg mixture until it triples in volume and forms fluffy, soft peaks. Scrape the batter into a large bowl and sift the flour on top of it. With a rubber spatula, partially fold the flour into the mix. Gently fold in the melted butter. Divide the batter between the prepared pans. Bake the cake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden. Cool the cakes in the pans set on a wire rack.
Step 3:GANACHE: In a saucepan over high heat, bring the cream and water to a boil. Place the chocolate in a medium bowl. Pour the boiled cream over the chocolate. Allow it to melt for a few minutes, then whisk until smooth.
Step 4:ASSEMBLY: With a sharp paring knife, using a 6 1/2inch plate or other disc as a guide, carefully cut out two circles of genoise from each sheet of cake. Leave the circles in place until you’re ready to use them, but lift off the scraps of cake from the pan and discard them. Carefully lift one genoise circle from the pan and place it on a tin bottom of a springform pan or other small platter. Evenly spread one-third of the pastry cream over this layer. Top with another cake layer. Spread one-third of the pastry cream over this layer. Repeat once more and top with the final layer of sponge. Refrigerate until ready to serve. When you’re ready to serve the cake, remelt the ganache over a double boiler. Top the cake generously with the ganache so that it drips down the cake sides. Use a small offset metal cake spatula to smooth the ganache into an even layer on the sides of the cake. Garnish the cake with fresh raspberries.
Image Source: carabou
Celebration Checkerboard Cake
June 9, 2009 by Firehouse Chef
Filed under Dessert, Easy, Easy Baking Recipes, Snack
| Celebration Checkerboard Cake - A scrumptious dessert, that lets you avoid baking, made out of heavenly melted chocolate, and the sweet light angel food cake. The angel food cake is store bought, so it is as easy to make as it is to eat!Prep Time: 20 mins Servings: 8 Main Ingredient: Cake, Chocolate Difficulty Level: 2 |
Ingredients to make Celebration Checkerboard Cake
3 Unsweetened chocolate 1 oz Squares or the melted choc
1/2 c White sugar
1/2 c Hot water
1 tb Gelatin,unflavored
2 tb Cold water
4 Egg yolks,beaten
4 Egg whites,beaten
1 ts Vanilla
1 c Heavy cream,(whipping)
1/2 c Almonds, blanched,browned,coarsely chopped
1 lg Angel food cake
Directions to make Celebration Checkerboard Cake
Step 1:Combine hot water, sugar and chocolate in double boiler. Heat until chocolate melts. Stir to blend. Soften gelatin in the cold water and add to chocolate mixture. Stir and cook until smooth and thick-about 5 minutes. Add chocolate mixture to egg yolks. Mix well. Cool 5 minutes.
Step 2:Add vanilla then fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Cool completely. Whip the cream and fold in nuts. Add to the chocolate mixture.
Step 3:Grease an angel(tube)cake pan. Break cake into egg size pieces. Put a layer of cake pieces into pan and pour some of the cholcolate mixture over and let it run through, repeat until all the cake and sauce are used. Cover and let set in refrigerator for about 8 hours. Ice with whipped cream or (Cool Whip)after turning out on serving plate and decorate with browned almonds.
Step 4:The cake can be iced several hours before serving and should be served real cold.
