Anniversary Chocolate Buttermilk Layer Cake With Toffee And Toasted Almonds Recipes

ANNIVERSARY CHOCOLATE-BUTTERMILK LAYER CAKE WITH TOFFEE AND TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans. Cut parchment paper circles to fit the bottoms of the pans and fit into the bottom of the cake pans.
• In a free standing mixer, add both sugars and butter until light and creamy. Beat in eggs, vanilla, and tomatoes. In a separate large bowl, combine cocoa, cake flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Beat cocoa mixture into butter mixture alternately with the buttermilk, in 3 additions. Pour into prepared pans. Bake cakes for 32 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean and tops of cake spring back at the touch. Cool cakes for 15 minutes. Carefully remove from pans and cool completely on racks.
• Meanwhile, Prepare whipped ganache filling: In a large saucepan, heat 1 cup cream to boiling. Stir in chocolate. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Cool ganache completely. In a separate bowl, whisk remaining 1 cup cream until soft peaks form. Stir in ganache mixtue, stirring gently to not deflate cream. Refrigerate until assembly time.
• Prepare frosting by combining butter and cream cheese in a large bowl. Beat until fluffy. Stir in buttermilk, salt, vanilla, and lemon juice. Beat in enough powdered sugar in 1/2 cup increments until light and fluffy, adding more buttermilk if necessary.
• To assemble cake, trim tops of cake with a serrated knife so that they are perfectly even and flat. Place 1 cake layer on cake platter. Spread with half of ganache filling, not quite to the edges. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup almonds, and 1/3 cup toffee bits. Repeat with next layer. Top with final cake layer. Frost entire tops and outsides of cake with cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle tops of cake with remaining toffee and almonds, and garnish with chocolate curls. Serve immediately, or refrigerate up to 24 hours before serving.

CHOCOLATE BUTTERMILK LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 9-inch cake pans with nonstick spray, and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• 2. Place flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, mix on low to combine. Keeping the mixer on low , add oil, buttermilk, then eggs one at a time. Add hot coffee in a thin stream, pouring down the side of the bowl. Add vanilla and mix until batter is smooth. Divide into pans and back until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs, about 30-35 minutes. Let cool in pans for at least 20 minutes.
• 3. Create a double boiler by filling a saucepan with 2 inches of water and bringing it to a boil. Place chocolate chips and cream in a stainless steel mixing bowl (I used glass) and set on top of simmering water, Allow mixture to melt-do not stir right away, When chocolate has melted, stir it with a whisk. Allow to cool at room temperature.
• 4. Remove cakes from pans. Place one layer of cake on a serving plate. Trim the top with a serrated knife to make it even (although I didn't find this necessary). Place a scoop of ganache in the middle and smooth it out to the edges using a palette knife or spatula. Trim the top off the other layer and place the untrimmed side down on the top of the frosted layer, pressing gently. Spoon more ganache on the top and smooth it around the sides, adding more ganache as needed to cover. If you need to apply a second coat of ganache, put the cake in the refridgerator for no more than 15 minutes to set before adding a second coat (although I found myself with a surplus of frosting). Makes a single 9-inch layer cake.

CHOCOLATE-TOFFEE CRUNCH LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Spray bottoms and sides of 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat Cake ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour 1 2/3 cups batter in each pan. Spread evenly.
• Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in small microwavable bowl, microwave 1/3 cup chocolate chips uncovered on High 30 seconds; stir. Continue to microwave in 15-second increments, stirring after each, until chips can be stirred smooth. Add almonds to bowl; stir until almonds are coated evenly with chocolate. Spread on waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes until chocolate is firm.
• Break chocolate-coated nuts into large pieces, and place in bowl of food processor. Cover and process until coarsely chopped. Place in small bowl; stir in toffee bits. Set aside.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave 3/4 cup chocolate chips uncovered on High 60 seconds; stir halfway through. Continue to microwave in 15-second increments until chips can be stirred smooth; cool 10 minutes. In large bowl, beat butter and melted chocolate with electric mixer on medium speed until blended. On low speed, beat in powdered sugar, milk and vanilla, scraping side of bowl occasionally, until smooth and creamy.
• Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread 2/3 cup of the frosting on top; sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the toffee bits crunch over top of frosting. Top with second cake layer. Spread 2/3 cup frosting on top; sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the toffee bits crunch over top of frosting; top with third cake layer. Fit decorating bag with medium star piping tip; fill with 3/4 cup of the frosting. Set aside.
• Frost sides with thin layer of frosting so sides are covered but cake still shows through. Spread remaining frosting on top. Using decorating bag, pipe stars on top edge of cake. Fill center with remaining toffee bits crunch. Refrigerate cake 30 minutes. If refrigerating cake longer than 30 minutes, let cake stand 10 minutes at room temperature before cutting. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

BUTTERMILK-CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a fluted tube pan (such as Bundt®).
• Bring 1/2 cup milk to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat and add bittersweet chocolate. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth, then let cool for 30 minutes.
• Stir all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.
• Beat sugar and margarine in a large bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating briefly after each addition. Mix in Irish cream liqueur and cooled chocolate mixture. Add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with buttermilk, stirring batter briefly after each addition. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top springs back when lightly touched, 50 to 55 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Tap the pan a few times and shake it gently to loosen cake. Invert carefully onto a serving plate and let cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat milk and oil for ganache in a saucepan over medium heat until boiling. Remove from the heat and add milk chocolate. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth, then let cool for 15 minutes. Spread onto cooled cake.

CHOCOLATE AND TOFFEE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• CAKE: Prepare cake mix as directed, adding 1 cup sour cream to batter before mixing.
• Pour into two round cake pans and bake as directed on box. Cool layers thoroughly.
• (For frosting: Place a mixing bowl and beater into the refrigerator ahead of time to better whip the cream.).
• Slice each cake layer in half horizontally. (I find this easier if I completely freeze the layers beforehand, then use a very sharp serrated knife!) You now have 4 cake layers. Set aside.
• FROSTING: Using your cold mixing bowl, blend together whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. (you can taste this mixture and decide if you want to add more sugar.).
• Beat at high speed for several minutes, until you achieve "Cool Whip" consistency. (Don't over beat; it will get too thick.).
• Gently fold in the toffee bits.
• Frost the cake! Mmmmm -- .