Prize Winner: Peppermint-Hot Chocolate Cake, Fudge Filling, Marshmallow Frosting

Note the cookies dressing up the holiday glam, garnishing the cake.

From Denny:  Love hot chocolate?  Thought of making it into a cake?  Britainy Shaw, 25, of Louisiana (before that she lived in Texas and before that in Montana) decided it was a brilliant idea.  She heard of Southern Living magazine's contest and decided to enter just for fun, taking third for this cake recipe.

She said her thoughts immediately went to her favorite Christmas flavors.  “For some reason, all I could think of were drinks.  I love hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps in it.”

Her cake consists of three layers of buttermilk chocolate cake that is filled with a fudge-mint filling, frosted with peppermint-tinged marshmallow crème frosting.  

Shaw said the very first time she made the cake it came out perfect; what luck for an experiment!  “I’ve just always been watching my mom and grandma cook.  I would love to open a bakery one day.”  Her cake is featured on Pages 140-141 of the Southern Living December double issue.

Talk about funny; Shaw was sitting outside, reading a Southern Living magazine, when the company called to inform her that her cake had won.  She was awarded $500 for her first time effort.  That should pay for a few Christmas gifts this year. :)

Love Light Large Mug

Let your love light shine! Hot chocolate looks great in this mug... I'm just sayin'

Flourless Chocolate Cake and Mocha Buttercream Icing

From Denny:  Check out this all time favorite - the flourless chocolate cake.  This time it's paired with another favorite flavor - the all important coffee!  Somehow, I just have to figure out how to grow coffee beans in my back yard.  Can you imagine how sweet that would be to pick your own beans and then roast them?  While we are dreaming we might as well include our own cocoa plants, right?  Hey, "Go BIG or go home!" :)

Happy Holidays and thank you for all your support this year!

Decadent Chocolate Cake

From Denny:  Go shopping online for a kitchen range and end up with a great recipe find from Wolf SubZero.  Of course, without a photo to go with the recipe I went looking over at flickr for a chocolate cake montage and check out this lucious photo, available with embed code with all rights reserved.

This chocolate cake uses high end chocolate, just perfect for the discriminating tastes for the holidays.

Happy Thanksgiving!  Thank you for your support this year on this blog and all the others too! :)

Recipe: Chocolate Whiskey Cake with Raspberries

Photo by sonicwalker @ flickr

From Denny: Here's an interesting one for all you vegans from the blog, Vegalicious! I found the awesome photo on flickr and below it was a recipe link, wow, yum! Practice this cake now for gift giving during any special holiday!

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

For the cake:

1 1/2 cups unbleached white flour

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup whisky

3/4 cup chilled coffee

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

For the raspberry filling:

1/2 - 3/4 cup raspberry preserves or jam

For the chocolate-whisky glaze:

6 - 8 ounces dark vegan chocolate, melted in a bain marie (double boiler)

4 & 1/2 ounces vegan margarine

2 tablespoons whiskey

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Generously oil an 8-inch s round baking pan or spring form and dust with a little sifted cocoa, or line the bottom with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and sugar.

In another bowl, combine the oil, whisky, coffee and vanilla.
Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until well blended and smooth.

Add the vinegar and stir briefly.

The baking soda will begin to react with the vinegar right away, leaving pale swirls in the batter.

Quickly pour the batter into the baking pan.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry.

Allow to cool.

Meanwhile, prepare the raspberry filing:

Make sure the raspberry filling is a spreadable mass.

If it is too thick or solid, either warm it in a saucepan, or add a bit of water and mix well.

You don’t want it too thin or it will soak into the cake, but if it is too thick, it might “tear” the cake as you spread it.

To assemble the cake:

Remove from the cake from the pan.

Carefully slice the cake in half.

Place the bottom half of the cake on a serving plate and put the raspberry filling on top.

Place the top half of the cake back on the cake.

For the chocolate glaze:

Melt the chocolate with the vegan margarine in a bain marie (double boiler over water).

Stir well to mix, remove from the bain marie and add the whisky and powdered sugar.

Add glaze the top of the cake, it’s fine if some of the glaze drizzles down the sides.

Garnish with a few pretty raspberries

Notes:

The basic recipe for the cake can be found all over the net, on
http://www.post-gazette.com, or http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com to name just a couple, however all are based on the Mossewood Cookbook recipe.

Recipe: Chocolate Pound Cake

From Denny: Awesome cake! You could bake this up, cut into fourths, freeze most of it, enjoy the rest baked fresh! Make the glaze as you need it. Something easy to keep on hand for unexpected guests or some cake required for your child's school function - just slice, glaze and arrange on a wonderful paper doily and disposable paper plate! What could be easier and more delicious?


Chocolate Pound Cake

Prep Time: 30 min
Inactive Prep Time: 1 hr 0 min
Cook Time: 1 hr 10 min
Level: Intermediate
Serves: 10 to 12 servings

Ingredients Cake:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup Dutch processed cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

8 large eggs, at room temperature

2 egg large yolks, at room temperature

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

2 teaspoons instant espresso powder

12 ounces unsalted butter (3 sticks), room temperature

2 1/2 cups sugar

6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped


Chocolate Glaze:

6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick)

1 tablespoon honey

Equipment: 10 cup bundt pan

Directions

Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour the bundt pan.

Sift the flour, cocoa, and salt into a medium bowl. Whisk the eggs, yolks, vanilla, and espresso powder together into a bowl and set aside.

In a heavy duty mixer, beat the butter with the paddle attachment, on medium speed for 1 minute, or until smooth. Gradually pour in the sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, until the butter begins to lighten, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and beat, on medium-high, until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes more.

Adjust the mixer's speed to its lowest setting. Add 1/2 of the flour mixture and mix until completely absorbed before adding the rest. Scrape down the sides of the mixer then beat on medium-high for 30 seconds more.

Adjust again to low speed and add half the egg mixture, mix until blended and smooth. Add the remaining egg mixture and beat until almost blended. Remove the bowl from the mixer, and fold in the chocolate by hand. Take care not to over mix the batter.

Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Cool the cake in the pan, on a rack for 10 minutes. Turn the cake out of the pan, and cool right side up on a rack. If not serving the same day, wrap in plastic wrap and store at room temperature. Glaze just before serving. Cake can be frozen for 1 month.

For the glaze: Put all the ingredients in a microwave safe bowl or glass measuring cup. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, about 1 minute more. Remove from the microwave and whisk until fully combined, smooth and glossy. While warm, pour glaze over cooled cake and do not spread. Serve as desired.

Copyright (c) 2007 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved

© 2009 Scripps Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved

Recipe: Orange Chocolate Bundt Cake

From Denny: The wonderful site of BellaOnline.com of which their food and wine section is one of many areas they cover for womens' issues! This is an easy recipe to make for weekend company or if you and yours are going to a relative's house to celebrate this Mother's Day.

"Orange Chocolate Bundt Cake combines the flavors of fresh oranges and dark chocolate to make a decadent cake that stays moist; it’s also pretty enough to serve company.

Since this delicious cake starts with a mix, it goes together quickly; once a few other simple ingredients are added, the cake takes on the texture and flavor of a made-from-scratch cake. Don't be surprized when this cake becomes an oft requested favorite."

By Karen Hancock, Desserts Editor

Orange Chocolate Bundt Cake

Yield: 16 Servings

Cake

1 18.25 ounce yellow cake Mix

1 3 oz. package orange gelatin

2 oranges

1/2 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

1 teaspoon orange extract

1 cup mini chocolate chips, or semi-sweet chocolate chips coarsely chopped in the food processor

Frosting

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons whipping cream

1 teaspoon orange extract

Orange zest, for garnish

Spray a 10" bundt pan with Baker's Joy (alternatively, spray the pan liberally with non-stick spray and sprinkle a tablespoon or two of flour into the pan. Rotate the pan so that flour covers the inside of the pan and dump the excess flour out; set the pan aside).

Preheat the oven to 350°.

Mix the cake mix and gelatin in a large mixing bowl.

Using a Microplane or fine grater, remove the zest from the oranges; add all but 1 teaspoon of the zest to the cake mixture (save the other half for the frosting).

Juice the oranges; you should have about 1 cup juice; if you don't have a full cup, add water to make 1 cup.

Add the juice, vegetable oil, eggs, and orange extract to the cake and gelatin mixture.

Mix on low speed until combined, scraping the bowl a couple of times.

Turn the mixer to medium and beat until the batter is smooth, 2-3 minutes.

Pour the batter evenly into the prepared bundt pan.

Bake 45-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.

Remove from the oven and cool 10 minutes; invert cake onto a cooling rack and cool thoroughly.

Frosting: Pour the chocolate chips into a microwaveable container; add the butter and whipping cream.

Microwave 1 1/2 minutes or until the butter is melted and the cream is warm; let sit 5 minutes.

Add the orange extract and the reserved orange zest; whisk until thick and smooth.

Pour the mixture over the top of the bundt cake, allowing it to drip down the sides.

Garnish with additional orange peel if desired.

Amount Per Serving

Calories 391 Calories from Fat 198
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 50%
Protein 5%
Carb. 45%

Nutrient Amount per
Serving:

Total Fat 22 g
Saturated Fat 8 g
Cholesterol 63 mg
Sodium 251 mg
Total Carbohydrate 44 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 14 g
Protein 5 g

Vitamin A 5%
Vitamin C 46%
Calcium 0%
Iron 4%

Recipe: Flourless Chocolate Cake with Coffee Liqueur

Photo by Svadilfari @ flickr

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Coffee Liqueur

From Denny: OK, have any of you actually ever met a flourless chocolate cake you didn't like? Come on, now, we all LOVE this stuff - and shamelessly! :) This chef makes an awesome version AND it's lighter too. Take a look.


Flourless Chocolate Cake with Coffee Liqueur

From: Chef Ray Johnson of Café Mundo, San Jose, Costa Rica

Yield: 12 servings

Serve this with coffee ice cream or whipped cream, if desired. Beaten eggs make this cake lighter in texture than most other flourless chocolate cakes.


Ingredients:


1 pound semisweet chocolate, chopped

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter

¼ cup coffee liqueur

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

7 large eggs, room temperature

1 cup sugar

Powdered sugar


Directions: Preheat oven to 350° F. Butter 9-inch diameter springform pan with 2 3/4 –inch-high sides. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper. Stir chocolate, butter, coffee liqueur and vanilla in heavy large saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Cool to lukewarm.

Using electric mixer, beat eggs and 1 cup sugar in large bowl until thick and pale, and slowly dissolving ribbon forms when beaters are lifted, about 6 minutes. Fold 1/3 of egg mixture into lukewarm chocolate mixture. Fold remaining egg mixture into chocolate mixture.

Place prepared pan on baking sheet. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 55 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Gently press down edges of cake. Cool completely in pan. (Cake can be prepared up to 1 day ahead. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before continuing.)

Run knife around pan sides to loosen cake. Remove sides of pan; transfer cake to platter. Remove parchment paper. Sprinkle cake with powdered sugar and serve.

Recipe: Espresso Fudge Cake with Kahlua Glaze

Espresso Fudge Cake with Kahlua Glaze

From: Bon Appétit May 2001

Yield: One 10” tube cake

Difficulty: Easy

Preparation: 30 minutes plus baking and cooling times

This simple Bundt cake is a stunner: The sour cream and eggs make it ultra-moist and rich, while the espresso ups the intensity of the chocolate and downplays its sweetness.


Cake:

4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

One 18.25-ounce box Betty Crocker Super Moist Devil’s Food Cake Mix with Pudding

1 cup sour cream

½ cup vegetable/canola oil

3 large eggs

1/3 cup Kahlua liqueur

3 Tablespoons instant espresso powder, such as Medaglia D’Oro


Kahlua glaze:

3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted

3 Tablespoons Kahlua liqueur


Make cake: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350° F. Coat inside of 10” Bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Two methods to melt chocolate, your choice

Melt chocolate: In a microwave place coarsely chopped chocolate in a proper container and microwave at medium (50%) for 1 ½ to 4 minutes, stopping and stirring often until chocolate is shiny and melted. If overheated chocolate can become grainy.

Melt chocolate: On top of the stove place coarsely chopped chocolate in top of a double boiler over hot, not simmering, water. As the chocolate melts, stir until melted and smooth.

Let melted chocolate cool to room temperature.

Place cake mix in bowl of electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Add sour cream, vegetable oil, eggs, Kahlua, espresso powder and cooled chocolate. Mix on low speed for 2 minutes, or until just combined. Remove bowl from mixer and scrape down sides with rubber spatula, folding in any remaining unincorporated ingredients.

Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth top. Bake for 45-5-0 minutes, or until skewer inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake on wire rack for 5 minutes, and then turn cake out of pan onto wire rack. Allow to cool completely.

Make glaze: Combine melted butter, confectioners’ sugar and Kahlua in small bowl; whisk until smooth. Pour glaze over top of cake, allowing it to run down sides and center of cake.

Recipe: Fudge-Chip Cake with Whiskey Glaze

Fudge-Chip Cake with Whiskey Glaze

From: Bon Appetit

Yield: 12 servings

Preparation: 30 minutes plus baking and cooling time and easy to make


Note: The whiskey in the cake and in the glaze makes this dessert for adults only. To make cleanup a breeze, place waxed paper under the cake before pouring the glaze over the top.


Fudge-chip cake:


One 12-ounce package mini chocolate chips

One 18.25-ounce box Betty Crocker Super Moist Chocolate Fudge Cake with Pudding, divided

½ cup canola oil

3 large eggs

1 cup heavy cream

1/3 cup whiskey


Whiskey glaze:


2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted

2 Tablespoons whiskey


Directions to make cake: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350° F. Thoroughly spray 12-cup tube pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Empty mini chocolate chips into small bowl. Toss lightly with 2 Tablespoons dry cake mix. Set aside.

Place remaining cake mix, oil, eggs, cream and whiskey in bowl of electric mixer fitter with whisk attachment. Mix on low speed for 1 minute, or until everything is just combined, stopping mixer once to scrape down sides of bowl. Remove bowl from mixer and add chocolate chips. Fold in chips by hand with rubber spatula, mixing until chips are thoroughly distributed and no dry cake mix is visible.

Scrape batter into prepared pan, smoothing top with rubber spatula. Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes while making glaze.

Make the glaze: Whisk together melted butter, confectioners’ sugar and whiskey in small bowl.

Invert cake onto wire rack; place sheet of waxed paper under rack. While cake is still hot, pour glaze over top of cake, letting glaze run down sides of cake and soak into top surface. Allow cake to cool completely on wire rack before cutting into 12 slices.

Note: For other recipes visit my other fun blog:
Comfort Food From Louisiana

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake

This is yet another easy to do chocolate beauty! Great for a dinner party or just a weekend relaxation with friends who happen to drop by for a lounging visit over coffee or tea. During Marti Gras season in Louisiana this little recipe will come in handy for that hectic time when feasting, cooking and baking is at its height just before the Lenten season begins. This will be a bit hit with everyone!


Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake


Yield: 12 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes, Bake time: 1 hour plus 20 minutes

From: Southern Living


Ingredients:

8 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

1 (16 oz.) can chocolate syrup

1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)

2 cups sugar

4 large eggs

2 ½ cups all purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Garnishes: Strawberry slices and Wintry-White Icing (recipe follows)


Directions: Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH for 30-second intervals until melted (about 1 ½ minutes total). Stir in chocolate syrup until smooth.

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.

Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla and melted chocolate just until blended. Pour batter into a greased and floured 14-cup Bundt pan.

Bake at 325° F. for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack, and let cool 30 minutes or until completely cool. Garnish, if desired.


Wintery-White Icing

Yield: Makes about ¾ cup

Prep time: 5 minutes

Stir together all ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cake and when ready to serve garnish with beautiful sliced fresh strawberries! Last thing to do? Enjoy at will!

Note: For other recipes visit my other fun blog:
Comfort Food From Louisiana

Recipe: Chocolate Almond Coconut Cake with Chocolate Caramel Sauce

Chocolate Almond Coconut Cake with Chocolate Caramel Sauce

From: Chef Sue Schickler of The Pitcher Inn, Warren, Vermont

Yield: 10 – 12 servings


Chocolate and Almond are the two best food groups in my world. They are such naturals to pair up! This is easy to make and a one-layer deliciously rich cake to be savored in small bites. After all, we have to save calories for the next delicious chocolate adventure!


Ingredients for Chocolate Almond Cake:
2 Tablespoons all purpose flour

½ cup plus 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

12 ounces almond paste

1 ¼ cups sugar

4 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk, divided

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened


Ingredients for Coconut layer:

2 2/3 cups (about 8 oz.) unsweetened, grated coconut

½ cup light corn syrup

Ingredients for Chocolate Glaze:

10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chipped

4 ½ Tablespoons safflower or vegetable oil


Ingredients for Chocolate Caramel Sauce:


3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

1 ¼ cups sugar

1/3 cup water

1 cup heavy cream


Optional: Vanilla ice cream for serving



Directions for Chocolate Almond Cake: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350° F. Butter bottom and sides of 9” springform pan. Line bottom with round of parchment paper and butter paper.

In medium mixing bowl, sift together four and cocoa powder; set aside.

Break almond paste into 1” chunks and place in bowl of electric mixer along with sugar and 1 whole egg.

Using paddle attachment beat on low speed until smooth. Add butter and beat on medium speed for 3-5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add remaining whole eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as necessary. Beat in yolk. Remove bowl from mixer stand. Using large rubber spatula, fold in cocoa powder mixture. Scrape batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until top of cake is firm. Cool cake in pan on wire rack for 20 minutes. Transfer cake to work surface and remove side of springform pan. Place 8” cardboard round on top of cake and place top of wire rack over cardboard. Invert entire assembly onto work surface. Remove bottom of pan and parchment paper from cake. Bottom of cake is now facing up. Allow to cool completely on wire rack.

Directions for Coconut layer: Place coconut in bowl of food processor fitted with metal chopping blade and pulse until very finely chopped. Add corn syrup and pulse until coconut is evenly moistened. Spread mixture over top of cake in even layer.

Directions for making Chocolate Glaze: Place chocolate and oil in top of double boiler over hot, not simmering, water. Melt chocolate, stirring until mixture is well combined and smooth. Set aside for 10 minutes to cool slightly.

To catch excess glaze, position jellyroll pan or mixing bowl under wire rack on which cake is set. Pour warm glaze over top of cake and use small offset metal spatula to smooth glaze evenly over entire cake. Refrigerate cake on rack until glaze is set, about 20 minutes. Transfer cake to serving platter.

Directions for making Chocolate Caramel Sauce: Melt chocolate carefully so as to not scorch it, over a double boiler on the stovetop is better than a microwave. Combine sugar and water in large heavy saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly and occasionally washing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush, until sugar is dissolved. Raise heat to medium-high and continue to cook, without stirring, for 5-7 minutes, or until syrup turns golden amber in color; it may be necessary to swirl pan occasionally to evenly distribute caramel.

Immediately remove pan from heat and slowly pour in heavy cream (be careful-mixture will bubble up). Whisk until well blended and smooth. Stir in melted chocolate. Strain sauce through metal sieve into heatproof bowl. (If not using immediately, cool sauce to room temperature, then chill in covered container. When ready to serve, reheat sauce in double boiler or microwave oven.)

To serve, cut cake into 10 or 12 slices. Place each slice on dessert plate along with scoop of ice cream and drizzle of warm sauce.

The Pitcher Inn
27 Main Street
Warren, Vermont
1 – 888 – 867 - 4824

Note: For other recipes visit my other fun blog:
Comfort Food From Louisiana