Chocolate – Aubrey About Town http://aubreyabouttown.com The going-ons of SF party host & chef, bon vivant, homme du monde, & man-about-town Sat, 24 Jul 2021 01:08:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://i0.wp.com/aubreyabouttown.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/cropped-43DD7C41-CD23-44CF-9EC7-C1D81E967BB4.png?fit=32%2C32 Chocolate – Aubrey About Town http://aubreyabouttown.com 32 32 58900657 German Chocolate Cake http://aubreyabouttown.com/recipe/german-chocolate-cake/ http://aubreyabouttown.com/recipe/german-chocolate-cake/#respond Sat, 24 Jul 2021 01:08:23 +0000 http://aubreyabouttown.com/?post_type=recipe&p=3966 Standing the test of time, this rich, decadent, and beloved cake is cross-generational, and is one of my most requested recipes.

  • Chop pecans.
  • Toast pecans for 5 mins.
  • Cool cakes in pans 10 mins before inverting on to cooling racks to cool completely.
  • Melt chocolate in hot cream, stirring until combined & glossy.
  • Whip chocolate ganache until fluffy.
  • Dissolve sugar and melt butter with evaporated milk & egg yolks.
  • Stirring constantly, cook over MED heat until a light butterscotch colour, and thickened.
  • Stir in vanilla extract & dark rum.
  • Mix in sweetened flaked coconut.
  • Mix in toasted pecans.
  • Allow Coconut-Pecan Frosting to cool.
  • Spread Coconut-Pecan Frosting on to first (bottom) cake layer.
  • Spread Coconut-Pecan Frosting on to bottom layer.
  • Frost Whipped Chocolate Ganache over middle (2nd layer of cake.
  • Fill in gaps between layers, and frost a thin layer (crumb coat) around sides and top circumference of the cake.
  • Frost 2nd coat a bit thicker than first, smoothing out the sides with a pastry scraper.
  • Spread top with Coconut-Pecan Frosting.
  • Spread top of cake with Coconut-Pecan Frosting, 1/8 inch from edge.
  • Pipe a scalloped border of Whipped Chocolate Ganache around the top circumference.
  • Chill finished cake at least 1 hour, and up to a week.
German Chocolate Cake
Rich, moist, and velvety layers of chocolate cake, filled & crowned with oh so decadent and butterscotchy Coconut-Pecan Frosting, and enrobed in Whipped Chocolate Ganache.
Servings12 slices
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Passive Time5 hours
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake
Coconut-Pecan Frosting
Whipped Chocolate Ganache
Instructions
Prepare Chocolate Cake:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Grease the sides and bottoms of three 8-inch round cake pans with vegetable shortening. Line the bottoms with an 8-inch parchment round and lightly grease the parchment then dust the pans with flour. Set aside.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together: all-purpose flour, baker’s sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and kosher salt.
  4. Outfit stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Add cubed butter to flour mixture, mix on MED speed for 2 minutes, or until the mixture is crumbly and resembles wet sand.
  5. With mixer still on MED, add eggs one at a time, mixing until fully incorporated after each egg, add milk, buttermilk, and vanilla extract, mix until just mixed.
  6. With a rubber spatula, scrap down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
  7. Increase speed to MED-HIGH, and beat for 2 minutes longer. The batter may have a ‘curdled’ appearance (this is normal, and represents the bits of butter that will melt into the batter, assuring a silky moist cake).
  8. Using a kitchen scale, evenly divide cake batter amongst the grease and floured cake pans.
  9. Bake cakes on the center rack in your preheated 350 degrees oven for 25 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of each cake. While the cakes bake, start the chocolate ganache.
  10. Transfer cake pans to a wire cooling rack, and cool in pans for 10 minutes (the sides of the cakes will have shrunk and pulled away from the sides of the pans. Invert pans on to wire racks, and allow cakes to cool completely (about 40 mins.)
  11. Carefully place each layer on to 8” round cake boards, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 1 hour to chill. Meanwhile, prepare Coconut-Pecan Frosting.
Prepare Whipped Chocolate Ganache:
  1. Place chocolate chips in a large bowl.
  2. In a microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl, heat the heavy whipping cream on HIGH for 2 minutes, or until hot to the touch, pour over the chocolate chips, and stir with a rubber spatula until the chocolate has melted completely, and the chocolate/cream mixture is smooth and glossy.
  3. Set aside, and stir from time to time, scraping the solidified ganache from the sides of the bowl, incorporating fully. The ganache will thicken to a custard consistency (about 3 hours).
  4. Transfer chocolate ganache to the bowl of a stand mixer outfitted with the paddle attachment.
  5. Beat on MED-HIGH until velvety thick, fluffy & light in colour. Cover with plastic wrap, and set aside in a cool place until ready to assemble cake.
Prepare Coconut-Pecan Frosting:
  1. Evenly spread chopped pecans on to a aluminum foil lined baking sheet, toast in a 350 degrees oven for 5 minutes.
  2. Transfer toasted pecans to a small bowl to cool. Allow to cool for 20 minutes.
  3. To a heavy 3-quart saucepan, stir together: evaporated milk, baker’s sugar, butter, and lightly beaten egg yolks. Mix to dissolve sugar.
  4. With a rubber spatula, stirring constantly, heat over MED heat for 5 minutes to melt the butter.
  5. Stirring constantly, continue to cook over MED heat for 15 minutes - being sure to scrape the bottom and sides of the pan. The egg/milk mixture will thicken to the consistency of custard, and will be a light butterscotch in colour.
  6. Immediately remove saucepan from the heat, and stir in vanilla extract and dark rum. Mix in sweetened flaked coconut and toasted pecans.
  7. Transfer mixture to a clean bowl.
  8. Set aside and allow to cool and thicken - giving the mixture a stir from time to time (about 1 hour). Keep covered until ready to assemble cake (the frosting can be made the day or two before assembling the cake, and kept refrigerated; allowing it to set out for 1 hour to soften before using).
  9. Assemble the German Chocolate Cake:
  10. Unwrap plastic wrap, and carefully peel off parchment round from first cake layer, and place TOP-UP on to a cardboard cake round.
  11. If using, center cake & cake round on to a cake carousel.
  12. Measure out 1-1/3 cup of Coconut-Pecan Frosting centered on top of first layer. Using a offset spatula, spread frosting from center-out to 1/8 inch from the edge of the layer (the frosting should be approximately 1/4 inch thick).
  13. Unwrap plastic and parchment from second layer, place cake TOP-DOWN on to frosted first layer.
  14. Measure out 1-1/3 cup Whipped Chocolate Ganache in the center of the 2nd cake layer. As previously instructed, using a offset spatula, spread ganache from center-out to 1/8 inch from the edge of the layer (the whipped ganache should be approximately 1/4 inch thick).
  15. Center the top cake layer on top of the middle layer.
  16. Filling the gaps between the layers, with an offset spatula, spread a thin ‘crumb coat’ layer of Whipped Chocolate Ganache from the BOTTOM-UP, all around the sides of the cake, ending on the outer circumference of the top of the cake.
  17. Refrigerate cake for 30 minutes to set the ganache ‘crumb coat’, readying the cake for the next layer of ganache.
  18. Place the crumb coated cake onto a cake drum (as pictured) or a cake server. And onto a cake carousel (if using).
  19. As before, spread a tad thicker layer of Whipped Chocolate Ganache from the BOTTOM-UP, all around the sides of the cake, ending on the outer circumference of the top of the cake. Using a cake scraper, smooth out the sides of the cake, filling any empty spots (if necessary) with more ganache as needed. There is no need to frost the top of the cake with the Whipped Chocolate Ganache.
  20. Return cake to the refrigerator, and chill 30 minutes.
  21. Measure out 1-1/3 cup of Coconut-Pecan Frosting centered on top of the cake. Using an offset spatula, spread frosting from center-out to 1/8 inch from the edge of the layer (again, the frosting should be approximately 1/4 inch thick).
  22. Lastly: Fill a pastry bag outfitted with a medium star pastry tip with remaining Whipped Chocolate Ganache (you should have approximately 1-1/2 cups of ganache).
  23. Holding at a 45 degree angle, place pastry tip at the outer edge of the circumference of the cake, slightly overlapping the edge of the Coconut-Pecan Frosting, gently squeeze pastry bag, lifting up slightly, then down, releasing pressure to form an inch-long tail. Repeat to create a scalloped border around the top of the cake.
  24. End the final scallop my pulling the tip under the first scallop to close the end.
  25. Refrigerate cake for at least one hour to set the whipped ganache. Keep refrigerated until an hour before serving, giving the cake an hour to come to the perfect serving temperature.
  26. The cake will keep fresh refrigerated up to one week, and two days at room temperature, or one month frozen. If freezing, defrost cake in the refrigerator overnight, again, removing from the refrigerator an hour before serving. Enjoy! Serves 12.
]]> http://aubreyabouttown.com/recipe/german-chocolate-cake/feed/ 0 3966 Guinness-Chocolate Cake with Bailey’s Irish Cream Cheese Buttercream http://aubreyabouttown.com/recipe/guinness-chocolate-cake-with-baileys-irish-cream-cheese-buttercream/ http://aubreyabouttown.com/recipe/guinness-chocolate-cake-with-baileys-irish-cream-cheese-buttercream/#respond Wed, 17 Mar 2021 08:40:30 +0000 http://aubreyabouttown.com/?post_type=recipe&p=3743 Simple & whimsical. A creamy and ivory beginning, with a rich ebony finish; just like a tall glass of it’s namesake, Guinness. The perfect conclusion to a St. Patrick’s Day Supper.

Guinness-Chocolate Cake with Irish Cream Cheese Buttercream
A rich layer of Guinness Stout and cocoa enriched cake, topped with a velvety Bailey’s Irish Cream spiked cream cheese topping.
Ingredients
Guinness-Chocolate Cake
Bailey’s Irish Cream Cheese Buttercream
Instructions
Prepare Guinness-Chocolate Cake:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Melt 3/4 cup butter, set aside.
  3. Grease sides and bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with vegetable shortening, place a 9-inch parchment round on the bottom. Dust sides of springform pan with flour. Set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk together: all-purpose flour, baker’s sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix well.
  5. In a medium bowl, beat eggs.
  6. To the beaten eggs, whisk in: sour cream, Guinness Stout, and vanilla.
  7. Whisk wet mixture into flour mixture until well combined. Whisk in melted butter until fully incorporated and smooth.
  8. Pour cake batter into greased & parchment lined and floured 9-inch springform pan.
  9. Bake on the center rack in a preheated 350 degrees oven for 50 mins, or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the center of the cake. The cake should have risen into a cracked dome top.
  10. Remove pan from oven, and set on a cooling rack to cool for 20 mins, remove cake from springform pan, and cool completely on rack (about two hours).
  11. Loosely wrap cake in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until chilled (about 2 hours or overnight).
Prepare the Bailey’s Irish Cream Cheese Buttercream:
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, on MED speed, cream the butter & cream cheese together until combined; stopping to scrape the bottom & sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
  2. Add Bailey’s Irish Cream and vanilla extract, blend until smooth, again, scraping the bowl.
  3. With the mixer on LOW, spoon the confectioners sugar into the cream cheese mixture 1/2 cup at a time, blending after each addition.
  4. Scrape the sides of the bowl, and any confectioners sugar at the bottom of the bowl.
  5. Beat on MED-HIGH for 2 mins, or until light and fluffy.
Frost the Cake:
  1. Place cake on a cake drum, cake round, cake stand, or serving platter.
  2. On the top center of the Guinness-Chocolate cake, mound 3 cups of Bailey’s Irish Cream Cheese Buttercream.
  3. Using an offset spatula, gentle spread from the center out, frosting to the edge, leaving the sides of the cake bare.
  4. Keep covered in the refrigerator. Serves 10-12
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