Tag: Chocolate Cakes

Chocolate · Desserts

Praline Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Castles2 Comments

Last evening we were invited to a birthday dinner for my BFF here in Dallas. One of Cora’s favorite things is to stand in my kitchen and eat my praline frosting with a spoon straight out of the pan. She also loves chocolate cake, so I thought about it and decided to combine her two favorite flavors into one big chocolate cake with praline frosting. The inside layers of frosting were the praline and the outside was covered with a great chocolate cream cheese frosting. The results were amazing.

Cake:

1 box Duncan Hines Devils Food Cake mix

4 eggs at room temp (this is important as they whip up and allow the cake layers to be fluffier)

1 cup COLD water

1 envelope of Dream Whip (yes you can still find it on the shelves in baking isle of grocery)

Mix all ingredients, beating well for 4 min on medium speed. Bake in 3 prepared pans as directed on back of box. When you have turned the cake layers out on waxed paper allowing to cool, until you frost them, prepare the frosting.

Praline Frosting

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 stick of butter

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/3 cup whipping cream

1 teas vanilla

Combine the butter, brown sugar and whipping cream in a sauce pan to allow the sugar and butter to melt. Stir constantly and when mixture begins to bubble around the edges, pour over the powdered sugar which has been placed in a mixing bowl. Beat well until all powdered sugar is incorporated then add 1 teas vanilla and beat until spreading consistency. Add a little more whipping cream as needed to spread over the layers of cake. If frosting begins to get to thick while waiting to spread on 2nd inside layer, add a little more whipping cream. Place the bottom layer on a serving platter and spread half of the praline frosting over the cake layer. Place the 2nd layer on top and use the other half of the frosting (I saved about 2 tables to drizzle over the top of the cake) to spread over the layer. Then place the 3rd chocolate layer over the praline frosting but do not frost it until the sides of the cake have been frosted with the chocolate frosting. Then frost the top of the cake with the chocolate frosting.

Chocolate Frosting

1 (1 lb) box powdered sugar

1 stick of butter

1 (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 teas vanilla

In a small saucepan, combine the butter,  chocolate chips and cocoa. Stir until all is melted and combined well. Pour over the powdered sugar and add the softened cream cheese. Mix on medium speed until it is combine and no more lumps remain in the frosting. If necessary, you may use milk or whipping cream to thin frosting to spreading consistency. I did add just a touch of whipping cream. (about 2 tables). 2014-12-05 12.42.04 2014-12-05 19.52.41 Add the vanilla and blend in well. Frost sides and top of cake with chocolate mixture. I drizzled a little of the praline frosting over the top of the cake as well.

Cakes · Chocolate · Desserts · Fruit

Chocolate Cherry Creme Cake

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Last weekend had me making several cherry pies to help celebrate our son, Cameron’s 30th. He is a cherry pie addict. I guess I had really never noticed recipes on the backs of Oregon Fruit Product Pitted dark sweet cherries in heavy syrup but for some reason, last Saturday I did. This recipe was written on the back of the label. I never thought I would be able to say that I didn’t have cream cheese in my fridge, ready to bake in an instant, but today, I have no cream cheese. As soon as I can get to the store, I am making this cake. I might even add a little hot fudge to the individual pieces when serving.

1 Duncan Hines Chocolate Cake Mix, baked according to directions on box for 9×13 using the eggs, oil and water.

1 (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (Eagle Brand)

1/3 cup lemon juice

1 teas vanilla or almond extract

2 cans Oregon Dark Sweet Pitted Cherries, drained, reserve syrup

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare cake according to directions on box and pour into prepared and greased 9×13″ pan. Bake as directed on box. Let cake cool completely. Make cream cheese filling.

Cream Cheese Filling

In small bowl, beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in Eagle Brand milk until smooth. Stir in lemon juice and extract. Spread on cooled cake, leaving an edge of the dark cake showing all around for a nice presentation. Refrigerate until set.

Topping:

Drain cherries, reserving syrup. In small saucepan, combine syrup from cherries, cornstarch and sugar. Mix until smooth. Heat and stir over medium heat until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the cherries. Let cool. with a small spoon, arrange the cherries only on top of the cake. Do not use the thickened syrup, only what stays on the cherries. Keep cake in fridge. When serving, use syrup to spoon over individual pieces and top with whipped whipping cream if desired.

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Upside Down German Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Castles2 Comments

No matter what cake comes out of our kitchen, Randy’s favorite remains the same, German Chocolate. This recipe is a quick version to put on the table when I don’t have time to whip egg whites or spend 12 minutes stirring the frosting that goes on top. I found this recipe on the side of a Duncan Hines German Chocolate cake mix. It is so rich because of the butter and cream cheese. Will keep this recipe right on top. It has Randy’s seal of approval!.

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 1/2 cups flaked coconut

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

1 pkg Duncan Hines German Chocolate Cake mix

1 ( 8oz) cream cheese (softened)

1/2 cup butter, melted (this is not the same butter listed above, but an addition)

1 lb powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350; grease and flour a 9×13″ pan.

Melt 1/2 cup butter and brown sugar together and spread in the bottom of the baking pan. Then sprinkle coconut and pecans on top of the mixture. Prepare cake mix according to directions on box. Pour over coconut and pecan mixture.

Combine cream cheese and 1/2 cup melted butter in medium bowl. Beat at low speed with electric mixer until creamy. Add powdered sugar and beat until blended and smooth. Drop by spoonfuls  evenly over batter.

Bake 45 minutes or until cake tests done.  Cool completely. Cut into individual pieces, turn upside down when placing on plates.

Cakes · Chocolate

Yes, Another Chocolate Cake Recipe

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Just saw this recipe on Just A Pinch and cannot wait to get back to Texas to make it. Randy loves cakes without frosting and this one sounds like a cake that will be a hit with him.

1 c guinnes draft beer

3/4 cup sour cream

1 stick unsalted butter (you can add up to 2 Tables more if you like, “I like”)

2 eggs

1 tables vanilla

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

2 cups all purpose flour

3 cups powdered sugar

2 1/2 teas baking soda

Preheat oven to 350. Butter and line a 9″ springform pan or a bundt pan.

Pour the beer into a large wide saucepan; add the butter (that you have sliced)and heat until the butter melts. Whisk in the cocoa and sugar.

Beat the sour cream with the eggs and vanilla; pour into the saucepan; whisk in the flour and baking soda.

Pour the cake batter into greased pan and bake for 45 minutes to an hour. Leave to cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack.

Place over platter and allow cake to fall onto platter. Sprinkle with about 1/4 cup powdered sugar or leave plain.

 

Cakes · Chocolate · Desserts

The Joy of Chocolate

Chocolate Castles1 Comment

This cook book…The Joy of Chocolate is the same one I talked about re: the chocolate buttermilk cake the other day.  Yesterday, I made this new chocolate-coffee pound cake. It is half gone already. I took some to 3 different friends and all of them have texted me saying that it is absolutely amazing. It is. so moist, a little dense, but the smooth flavor of coffee comes through beautifully. We will be making it again, soon.

1 cup cocoa powder

2 cups sifted all purpose flour

1/2 teas baking soda

1 teas salt

2 table instant coffee

3 sticks unsalted butter

3 cups sugar

2 teas vanilla

5 eggs, room temperature

1 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup water

Preheat oven to 325. Butter and flour a 10″ tube or bundt pan.

Sift together the flour, cocoa, coffee powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

Cream the butter in a separate mixing bowl until it is light and fluffy. Continue beating while adding the sugar gradually. Beat at high speed about 5 mn. Add the vanilla and the eggs, 1 at a time, beating briefly after each addition.

Mix in dry ingredients alternating with the liquid, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Scrape down the batter as needed in bowl.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake in the upper 3rd of the oven for 1 hr and 15-20 minutes, testing for doneness after an hour and 15 min. Let cake rest in the pan for 20 min before tuning out onto a platter. The cake will stay moist for days, but trust me, it won’t last more than 2….

Cakes · Chocolate · Desserts

Chocolate Buttermilk Cake with Sour Cream Frosting

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While packing up my cookbooks (Randy had forgot just how many I had and told me that I have more than Barnes & Noble), I sat down to look through a book that a friend had given me back in 85 with all chocolate recipes. This recipe caught my eye and tomorrow, it will be baking in our oven.

Serves 10-12

2 sticks butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup cocoa

1 teas baking powder

1 teas baking soda

1 teas cinnamon

2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1 teas vanilla

1 tables instant coffee powder, dissolved in 1 table hot water

 

Sour Cream Frosting

1 cup sour cream

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup heavy whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350. Butter a 10″ spring form pan. Line the bottom with a round of wax or parchment paper and lightly butter the paper.

In the bowl of mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue beating until thick and light. Add vanilla.

Sieve together the cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and flour. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in 4 portions, alternating with the buttermilk and coffee. beat until perfectly blended.

Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 60 min, or until cake tests done.

Run a knife around the edge of cake. Let the cake cool completely in the pan. Make the frosting shortly before needed.

Mix together the sour cream and the sugar. Whip the heavy cream until Is firm. Mix the cream into the sour cream/sugar mixture.

Release the cake and turn it out upside down on a platter. Use a long serrated knife to cut the cake into 2 layers. Spread the frosting generously over the bottom layer, then top with other layer. Swirl the filling over the entire top and sides of cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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Ding Dong Delicious Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Castles1 Comment

For Jaden’s birthday cake, he wants an ice cream cake. He wants me to make it so have been looking for something other than just the regular one. When Jaden saw this one on my FB page, he said, “this is the one”. It consists of filling, cake layers and frosted with chocolate frosting and whipping cream. Since he wanted an ice cream cake, am adding frozen chocolate ice cream to the middle of the cake. Here we go…

Cake:

Make one Duncan Hines Chocolate Cake according to directions for two 9″ round cake pans. When cake is done, cool awhile and then slice each layer in 2 layers, giving you now 4 layers. Set aside.

Freeze about 2 cups of slightly softened chocolate ice cream (or flavor or your choice) in a 9″ round cake pan that you have placed Saran Wrap to extend over the edges. This will make it easy to pull it out after the ice cream freezes. This also ensures that it will be exactly the same size as the cake.

Filling:

1 stick softened butter, unsalted

1 8 oz softened cream cheese

1 8 oz Cool Whip

Mix until smooth. Place one cake layer on a serving platter that will fit into your freezer. Put about 1 cup of the filling and spread, just until the edge of the cake layer. Place a second cake layer on top. Using the frozen ice cream layer, place on top of cake layer. Place a third cake layer on top of ice cream. Use another 1 cup of filling. Place last cake layer on top and place in freezer for at least 1 hour.

Frosting:

This is your choice, you can either use chocolate frosting, softened ice cream or whipping cream. Cake will need to be frozen until serving time. 

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Black Magic Cake

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Years ago when I was working at a title company, one of my coworkers would bring this cake to the office quite frequently. It was always a hit. Today I came across the recipe he had given to all of us and thought it to be the perfect chocolate cake for those Halloween parties or fallish dinners, or when you are just craving a deep chocolate-coffee flavored dessert. Easy and quick to put together. 

1 3/4 cup flour

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup Hershey’s cocoa

2 teas baking soda

1 teas baking powder

1 teas salt

2 eggs

1 cup strong black coffee (allow to cool before adding to ingredients

1 cup sour milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 teas vanilla

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large mixer bowl. Add eggs, coffee, sour milk (buttermilk) oil and vanilla.

Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Batter will be thin.

Pour into 2 greased and floured 9″ cake pans. Bake at 350 for 35-38 minutes. Five minutes longer if baked in a 13×9 pan.

Frost when completely cooled.

Glazed Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch

1 (1 oz) square unsweetened chocolate, chopped up

dash salt

1/2 cup boiling water

1 1/2 tables butter

1 teas vanilla

Mix sugar, cornstarch; add chocolate pieces and salt. Pour boiling water over this mixture and cook in a medium sauce pan until mixture thickens. Add butter and vanilla. Stir will. Allow to cool slightly before spreading on cake. If you made the cake in the two layers, pour half of the frosting on top of a layer. Allow to set a few minutes. Place top cake layer on top of frosted bottom layer and pour remaining frosting onto top of cake. Allow to drip down sides of cake.

*If you used the 9×13 cake pan, double the ingredients for frosting and when cake is cool, pour frosting over top of the one layer cake.

Cakes · Chocolate · Holiday Fare

Chocolate Praline Cake

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IMG_1408

What a gorgeous creation, just perfect for a dessert centerpiece.  To save time and energy, bake your favorite chocolate cake mix in 2 (9″) cake pans. Let cook completely. Set aside while making Chocolate Ganache and Praline Frosting

Ganache

1 (12 oz)  package semisweet chocolate morsels

1/2 cup whipping cream

1/4 cup butter, cut into pieces

Microwave chocolate morsels and whipping cream in a glass bowl at medium power 2-3 minutes or melted. Stirring at 1 min intervals. Whisk until smooth. Gradually add butter, whisking until smooth. Cool, whisking often for 15 min or until spreading consistency.

Place one chocolate cake layer on a serving platter. Spoon half of ganache over layer. Let sit for about 10 min to allow ganache to set up on cake layer. Place 2nd cake layer on top and use remaining ganache. While this is setting up, make the praline frosting.

Praline Frosting:

1/4 cup butter

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup whipping cream

1 cup powdered sugar

1 teas vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Bring first 3 ingredients to a boil in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat, stirring often. Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat and whisk in  1 cup powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in toasted pecans, stirring gently 3-5 minutes or until mixture begins to cool and thicken slightly.  When frosting is of spreading consistency, pour immediately over top of cake. If you wait to long, the frosting will harden and you will not be able to spread over cake. Decorate with whole pecans. Pr