Chocolate Almond Mary Ann Cake Recipes

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND MARY ANN CAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lower third of an oven and preheat to 350°F
• Grease a Mary Ann cake pan and dust with cocoa powder.
• TO MAKE THE CAKE:.
• Over a sheet of waxed paper, sift together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the 3/4 cup cocoa, the sugar, the Amaretto and boiling water.
• Set aside.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the butter, eggs and vanilla.
• Pour into the cocoa mixture and whisk to combine.
• Whisk in the flour mixture in two additions.
• Pour the batter through a fine-mesh sieve into the prepared pan and stir in the chocolate chips.
• Bake until the cake springs back when gently touched and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
• Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes.
• Tap the pan gently on a work surface, invert the pan onto the rack and lift off the pan.
• Let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• TO MAKE THE GANACHE:.
• Put the chocolate in a small bowl.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the cream until bubbles form around the edges of the pan.
• Pour the cream over the chocolate.
• Let stand for 1 minute, then slowly whisk until smooth.
• Let cool for 10 minutes before using.
• Pour the ganache into the well of the cake.
• Using an offset spatula, spread evenly.
• Sprinkle the almonds in a 1-inch-wide band around the outside edge of the ganache.
• Refrigerate the cake for at least 30 minutes to set the ganache.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE AND ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line bottom of 8-inch square baking pan with parchment. Finely grind almonds, chocolate, orange peel and cinnamon in processor. In medium bowl of electric mixer, beat yolks and 3 tablespoons sugar until light yellow and slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Mix in nut mixture (mixture will be very thick). Using clean dry bowl and beater, beat egg whites in large bowl until soft peaks form. Add remaining 3 tablespoons sugar and beat until stiff but not dry. Mix half of whites into chocolate mixture to lighten. Gently fold in remaining whites.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool in pan on rack. Turn out cake and remove paper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Wrap tightly; store at room temperature.)
• For sauce:
• Melt chocolate in heavy small saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Mix in half and half and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and stir until smooth. Cool. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
• Whip cream and sugar until peaks form. Cut cake into squares and place on plates. Top each square with mound of whipped cream. Sprinkle with cinnamon and drizzle with chocolate sauce. Arrange orange slices in front of cake squares.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE & ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4 and line the base of a 20cm springform tin with baking parchment. Melt the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of just-simmering water, or in the microwave in 20-second bursts. Stir, then leave to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, tip the eggs and sugar into a second bowl and beat with an electric whisk for 4-5 mins, or until thick and creamy. Add the mascarpone or soft cheese and vanilla, and continue to beat until everything is combined. Lightly fold in the cooled melted chocolate mixture until everything is one even colour, then fold in the almonds. Sift over the cocoa powder and a small pinch of salt, and fold in to combine.
• Scrape the cake batter into the prepared tin. Put the tin on a baking tray and bake for 35-40 mins until the cake is puffed up and has cracked on top. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for 30-40 mins - it will deflate as it cools. Serve warm as a chocolate pudding, or leave to cool completely and enjoy as a fudgy brownie cake. Dust with extra cocoa powder before serving.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add sour cream and extracts; mix well. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. , Pour into a greased 10-in. fluted tube pan. Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 50-55 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. , For frosting, cream butter, sugar and extracts in a small bowl until smooth. Add milk until frosting reaches desired spreading consistency. Spread over cake. Decorate with almonds.

CHOCOLATE AND ALMOND TIGER CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Center a rack in the oven and heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 9-inch round cake pan and fit a circle of parchment paper at the base.
• Bring the butter just to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Turn off the heat and leave the saucepan on the burner to keep the butter warm while you make the cake batter.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt until thoroughly blended. Add the almond flour and whisk. If the almond flour is lumpy, use your fingers to break up the clumps. Switch to a spatula and add the egg whites in 3 additions, stirring until the batter is smooth and easily flows off the spatula. Stir in the vanilla until incorporated. Add the butter in 3 additions, folding until it is completely incorporated and you've got a smooth batter with a light sheen. Stir in the chopped chocolate, mixing well. Scrape the batter into the pan and spread evenly.
• Bake until golden brown, evenly risen and pulling away from the sides of the pan, 37 to 40 minutes. A tester inserted into the center of the cake should come out clean. Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and leave for 5 minutes. Run a table knife around the sides of the pan, flip the cake over, remove the pan, peel away the parchment and invert the cake onto another rack. Allow the cake to come to room temperature before serving or covering with ganache.
• If you'd like, make the topping: Put the cream in a small saucepan and bring just to a boil. Turn off the heat and add the chocolate. Gently stir the chocolate and cream together until blended, thick and shiny. Pour the ganache over the top of the cake and use an offset spatula or kitchen knife to spread it across the cake. Scatter over the toasted almonds. Either leave the cake on the counter to allow the ganache to set a bit (it will never be really firm) or refrigerate the cake for 15 minutes to set the chocolate. The cake is best at room temperature. Covered, it will keep for about 3 days at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND SANS RIVAL CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line four 9x9-inch cake pans with parchment paper. Butter and flour the sides of the pans thoroughly.
• Beat egg whites in a large glass mixing bowl until foamy, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with cream of tartar. Gradually add sugar, a few tablespoons at a time. Continue mixing until stiff, shiny peaks form, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Fold in almonds and cocoa. Divide meringue evenly into the four pans and spread to touch the edges.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove meringue from the pans and peel of parchment paper while still hot.
• Beat egg yolks on high speed until they double in size and are lemon yellow.
• Combine sugar and water in a heavy pan and cook over medium heat, stirring the sides down only, until all the sugar is dissolved and the syrup reaches 235 degrees F/112 degrees C (or thread stage).
• With the mixer on high speed, very slowly pour the syrup down the sides of the bowl, until all has been added. Be careful as the very hot syrup could burn you if it splashes from the beaters. Continue beating on high until the mixture is at room temperature, about 15 minutes. Beat in the soft, room temperature butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high speed. Add melted chocolate and almond extract.
• Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Whip smooth before use.
• Assembly: Set bottom meringue on cake board with a dab of butter cream to hold it in place. Spread a thin layer of buttercream and then place another meringue on top. Repeat with a thin layer of buttercream, meringue, thin layer of buttercream, meringue, and finally buttercream the top and sides.