Black Pepper Cake Recipes

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH BLACK PEPPER BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Make the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3 8-inch round baking pans, line the bottoms of each with a round of parchment paper and grease the paper. Use a little cocoa powder to coat the insides of the pans, rotating pans so the cocoa comes up the sides, then tap out excess.
• In a small bowl, whisk together cocoa powder and 2/3 cup boiling water. Whisk in milk. In a separate bowl, whisk together cake flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• In a large mixing bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, until incorporated. Beat in vanilla. With the mixer running on low speed, beat in a third of the dry ingredients, followed by half the cocoa mixture. Add remaining portions, alternating between two mixtures. Beat until smooth.
• Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake until the centers of the cakes are firm to the touch, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes; turn them out onto the rack to cool completely. (Peel off parchment paper if it sticks to the cakes.)
• Make the buttercream: Fill a medium pot halfway with water (or use a double-boiler) and bring to a simmer. In a heatproof bowl that fits over pot, whisk together egg whites, sugar and salt. Cook, whisking constantly, until the sugar dissolves and mixture reaches 140 degrees on a candy or instant-read thermometer, about 5 minutes.
• Using an electric mixer, whip until completely cooled and thick, about 5 minutes. Beat in butter a little at a time, until the frosting is smooth and spreadable. Beat in vanilla bean seeds and pepper.
• Using a serrated knife, slice each cake in half horizontally. Place one bottom layer on a large platter or cake stand. Top evenly with a thin layer of buttercream. Repeat, alternating between cake and frosting, ending with a layer of cake. Cover cake loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate while you prepare fudge frosting. (Cake can rest in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.)
• Make the frosting: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, heavy cream and salt. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar completely dissolves, about 5 minutes. Scrape mixture into a bowl. Stir in chocolate, butter and vanilla until smooth. Set bowl over a larger bowl filled with ice. Use a hand mixer or an immersion blender with the whisk attachment to whip until mixture is thick and cool, about 5 minutes. Spread frosting over the top and sides of the cake.

BLACK PEPPER CAKE

Steps:

• Cream margarine until it resembles whipped cream.
• Add brown sugar and stir. Add white sugar and vailla. Beat well.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beat after each.
• Sift together dry ingredients. Add to mixture, alternating with buttermilk (put soda in buttermilk).
• Beat well and pour into greased and floured pans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Bundt pans take about 40 minutes.
• If loaf pan us used,and can be, bake for 45 to 60 minutes at 325 degrees.

BLACK BEAN CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the sour cream: Mix all the ingredients together and set aside.
• For the black beans: Combine the black beans with the onion and garlic cloves. Cover with water and bring to a boil, and then simmer, covered. The beans are ready when they are tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Drain and set aside to cool down. Drain.
• For the vegetables: Saute all ingredients in a medium saute pan in the oil over medium-high and set aside to cool down.
• For the patties: Take about 3/4 cup black beans after they have cooled and put into food processor and pulse until the beans break apart but don't form a big ball of mush.
• Add the beans to the sauteed vegetables and mix in the flour, cumin, salt and pepper, and adobo and form into 6 to 8 patties.
• Add enough oil to coat a medium saute pan and place over medium-high heat. Add 2 to 3 patties and cook for about 1 minute, and then turn and sear the other sides for 1 more minute. The patties should have a golden brown crust. Place into the oven for about 4 minutes.
• While the patties are in the oven, add enough oil to coat a medium saute pan and place over medium-high heat. Add the red onion and cook for 1 minute. Add the spinach, season with salt and pepper, and wilt. Add the diced tomatoes and toss to warm through.
• Set the spinach in the center of a plate and place 2 to 3 bean cakes on top. Squeeze a little lime juice on top and top off with chipotle sour cream.

BLACK PEPPER POUND CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in pepper and extract. Add eggs, one at a time, beating very well after each addition. Add flour alternately with cream and mix well., Pour into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan. Bake at 325° for 70-75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar if desired.

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH BLACK PEPPER BOILED ICING

Steps:

• Make the filling: In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine chocolate and salt; set aside. Place 1 tablespoon heavy cream in a small bowl; sprinkle gelatin over cream and let stand until softened, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place remaining 3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons heavy cream and 1 tablespoon sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks and remaining tablespoon sugar. Gradually whisk hot cream mixture into egg mixture. Return cream mixture to saucepan and place over medium heat; cook, whisking constantly, until mixture is thickened and coats the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir gelatin mixture into cream mixture. Strain gelatin mixture into bowl with chocolate mixture; let stand 1 minute. Whisk until chocolate is melted and smooth. Whisk in creme fraiche. Attach bowl to electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat filling until well combined, about 2 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down on the surface of the filling to prevent a skin from forming. Transfer to refrigerator and let chill overnight.
• Make the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray the bottom and sides of three 9-inch round cake pans with cooking spray. Line bottom of pans with parchment-paper rounds; set aside.
• Sift cocoa powder into a medium bowl; whisk in egg and egg white. Gradually whisk in 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons lukewarm water; continue whisking until smooth. Set aside. In another medium bowl, whisk together both flours, baking soda and baking powder; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and salt, until smooth, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Gradually beat cocoa mixture into butter mixture. Add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with buttermilk, and mixing well after each addition. Fold in cocoa nibs and ground espresso.
• Divide batter evenly among prepared cake pans; smooth tops. Transfer to oven and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of each comes out clean, about 17 minutes. Transfer pans to wire rack and let cool completely before inverting cakes onto wire racks. At this point, cakes can be wrapped individually in plastic wrap and kept at room temperature for up to 1 day. Transfer cake layers to freezer; freeze until firm before frosting.
• Assemble: Place Chocolate Crumb Base on a cake plate; using an adjustable cake ring as a guide, top with 1 layer of cake. Stir filling to loosen and spread half (about 1 cup) over layer; top with a second layer, followed by remaining filling. Top with remaining layer of cake. Transfer to refrigerator and let chill for 1 hour.
• Spoon icing over top of cake; smooth over top and sides, swirling decoratively. If desired, use a kitchen torch to brulee frosting in several spots. Cake can be served immediately or covered with a cake dome and kept chilled for up to 1 day; let stand at room temperature for 1 hour before serving.

BLACK-PEPPER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Butter an 8-by-2-inch round cake pan, line the bottom with a round of parchment paper, and butter the parchment paper; set aside.
• Blanch peppercorns in a small saucepan of boiling water for 1 minute; drain. Repeat two more times. Pat peppercorns dry with paper towels
• Spread peppercorns evenly in a small baking pan. Transfer to oven until thoroughly dry, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, and let cool. Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees.
• In a spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle, grind peppercorns to medium-fine; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese and sugar on medium-high speed until very smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean, and add to the cream cheese mixture with reserved pepper. Reserve the pod for another use. Beat in creme fraiche and lemon juice. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Beat in cream.
• Pour batter into the prepared pan. Place the pan in a large roasting pan. Add enough hot water to come 1 inch up the sides of the roasting pan. Bake until edges are set and center shivers slightly when shaken, about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours. Remove the cake pan from the roasting pan, and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• When cool, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• To unmold cheesecake, run a thin knife or spatula around the edges to loosen. Then carefully place the pan over a hot burner, shaking gently from side to side, for about 20 seconds. Invert the cake onto a serving plate, peel off parchment paper, and serve with pineapple, if desired.

BLACK PEPPER POUND CAKE

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in pepper and extract. Add eggs, one at a time, beating very well after each addition. Add flour alternately with cream; mix well.
• Pour into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan. Bake at 325 degrees F for 70-75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar if desired.

ALMOND, BLACK PEPPER AND FIG CAKE WITH TAMARIND GLAZE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with a little butter.
• Trim and discard the stalks from the figs. Slice the figs in half lengthwise, and place them in a small bowl. Sprinkle the pepper and 2 tablespoons sugar over the figs, and toss to coat well.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Sift twice through a fine mesh sieve to remove any clumps and return to the large bowl. In a medium bowl, whisk melted butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar, eggs and yogurt until smooth and combined. (It will be very thick.) Whisk in the almond extract.
• Make a small well in the center of the dry ingredients, and pour in the whisked liquid ingredients. Using an outward-to-inward circular motion, fold with a spatula until the mixtures are completely combined, and no visible flecks of dry ingredients remain. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Top the cake with the sliced figs with the cut sides facing up.
• Bake cake until the surface is golden brown and the figs release their juices and turn slightly caramelized, about 1 hour, rotating halfway through baking. If it's browning too quickly, loosely tent the cake with foil. The cake is done when a skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove the baked cake and let cool for 15 minutes.
• As the cake cools, prepare the tamarind glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk the confectioners' sugar, tamarind paste and oil until smooth. If the glaze is too thick, it can be thinned by adding a teaspoon or two of water.
• Once the cake has cooled for 15 minutes, pour the glaze over, and serve warm or at room temperature. Refrigerate any leftovers and eat within 3 days.