Crunchy Topped Chocolate Cake Recipes

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.

BLACKOUT CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE CRUNCH

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 8-by-2-inch-round cake pans and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. Combine the chocolate, milk and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until the chocolate is melted; whisk until smooth, then let cool. Meanwhile, sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a large bowl; set aside.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 4 minutes. Add the vegetable oil, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla; beat until fluffy, about 4 more minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the melted chocolate mixture; beat until just incorporated.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool 20 minutes in the pans, then run a knife around the edges and invert onto a rack to cool completely.
• Reheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Using a long serrated knife, cut each cake in half crosswise to make 4 layers. Crumble one of the layers into small pieces on the baking sheet. Bake until dry, about 20 minutes; let cool completely. Cover with parchment paper and crush with the bottom of a saucepan to make coarse crumbs; set aside.
• Make the frosting: Combine the chocolate, corn syrup and 1/2 cup hot water in a large heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water; stir until melted, about 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pot and let cool 10 minutes. Transfer to a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and start beating on high speed; beat in the vanilla, then the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until fluffy. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar and beat until creamy. Refrigerate, stirring occasionally, until thick enough to spread, about 10 minutes. (If the frosting is too thick, microwave in 10-second intervals for up to 30 seconds to soften.)
• Put one cake layer on a platter; spread 1 heaping cup frosting on top. Add another cake layer, more frosting and the last cake layer. Cover the top and sides with the remaining frosting. Press the reserved cake crumbs all over the cake.

CHOCOLATE CRUNCHY CAKE

Steps:

• To glaze the nuts: Preheat the oven to 275 F. Spread the hazelnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, until the nuts just begin darken. Remove and let cool just enough to handle, then rub the hot nuts with a towel to remove the bitter skins. Let cool completely. Lightly grease a baking sheet. Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a heavy saucepan over low heat and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Increase the heat to medium and cook without stirring until golden-brown in color, 300 F on a candy thermometer (hard-crack stage). Remove from heat and stir in the nuts. Immediately lift out the nuts with a wire lifter or slotted spoon and drain slightly over the pan, then spread on the greased baking sheet. Let cool. Set aside 45 of the best hazelnuts for garnish. To make the praline feuillantines: In the top of a double boiler over barely simmering water, melt the chocolates together. Stir in the nuts and crushed crepes and blend. Spread out thin on a piece of parchment paper. Refrigerate until firm. To make the praline mousse: Bring the cream just to the boiling point over medium-high heat. Put the chocolate and hazelnut (praline) paste in a heatproof bowl and pour the hot cream over them. Blend well and let cool. Fold in the whipped cream. Place fifteen 2-1/2-inch ring molds on parchment-lined baking sheets. Cut the feuillantine into 2-1/2-inch circles and press one into the bottom of each mold. Fill each mold with praline mousse. Freeze until firm, at least 2 hours. Turn out of the molds, place on wire racks over the parchment-lined baking sheets, and return to the freezer. To make the coffee crème anglaise: Add the coffee grounds to the milk in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. Take off the heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Beat the egg yolks and sugar until light in color and thickened. Whisk the coffee-milk mixture into the egg mixture and put back in the saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the mixture coats the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes. Remove and strain through a fine-meshed sieve. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. To make the paradise icing: Bring the water, sugar, cocoa powder, and cream to a boil in a heavy saucepan. Put the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl and pour the cream mixture over it. Blend well and stir until glossy. Let cool until lukewarm. To assemble: Take the frozen molds out of the freezer and leave on the wire rack over the baking sheet. Pour the icing over the cakes to form a smooth coating. When the icing has congealed, lift a mold with a wide spatula and place on a dessert plate. With a knife which has been dipped in hot water, cut the cake in half and spread the sides apart. Repeat with remaining cakes. Spoon the coffee crème anglaise on the plate in the center opening of each cake. Garnish each with three glazed hazelnuts and a mint leaf.

CRUNCHY TOPPED CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, water, oil and egg whites; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. , Pour into a broiler-proof 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean., For topping, combine brown sugar and oats in a bowl; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in coconut and pecans; sprinkle over hot cake. Broil 4-6 in. from the heat for 1-2 minutes or until topping is bubbly. Serve warm.

CRAZY CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients right in a 9 x 13 inch pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. Frost with your favorite frosting.

THE BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE YOU EVER ATE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9 x 13 inch pan.
• Sift 2 cups white sugar and 2 cups flour together; set aside.
• In a sauce pan; combine 1/2 cup butter or margarine, oil, water, and 1/4 cup cocoa. Bring mixture to a boil, remove from heat and add to dry ingredients.
• Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk; add with eggs, salt, cinnamon and 1 teaspoon vanilla to cocoa, flour mixture and stir well.
• Pour batter into a 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 20 minutes.
• To Make Frosting: Five minutes before cake is done combine 1/2 cup butter,1/4 cup cocoa and 1/4 cup milk in saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Remove from heat and stir in confectioners' sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and chopped pecans. Pour frosting over hot cake. Cake remains moist and may be frozen. Serves 20.

CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH MILK-CHOCOLATE CRUNCH AND CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the cake: Butter and flour a 7-inch round cake pan (3 inches deep). Sift flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon salt into a large bowl. Add eggs, warm water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth, about 3 minutes.
• Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes. Let cool completely in pan.
• Meanwhile, make the milk-chocolate crunch: Fold crisped-rice cereal into melted milk chocolate until completely coated. Spread mixture about 1/4 inch thick onto a baking sheet lined with a nonstick baking mat. Freeze until set, about 45 minutes. Chop into small pieces. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Make the caramel sauce: Bring granulated sugar, cream, corn syrup, and butter to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook until mixture registers 236 degrees on a candy thermometer. Immediately remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and a pinch of salt. Transfer to a bowl, and let cool.
• Make the frosting: Place cocoa powder in a small bowl, and stir in hot water to create a thick paste. Beat butter, confectioners' sugar, and a pinch of salt until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in melted semisweet chocolate and cocoa paste. If frosting doesn't seem firm enough, refrigerate for 10 to 12 minutes, whisking every few minutes. Let stand at room temperature until ready to use.
• Assemble the cake: Turn out cake from pan, and trim top. Slice into 3 even rounds. Place bottom layer on a rotating cake stand or a large plate, and spread 1/2 cup milk-chocolate crunch on top. Gently spread 3/4 cup caramel sauce on top, and cover with another 1/2 cup crunch. Top with middle cake layer, and repeat, finishing with top cake layer.
• Frost cake with a crumb coat (a thin layer of frosting to seal in stray crumbs): Gently sweep away any loose crumbs with a pastry brush, then use a small offset spatula to cover the top and sides a with a thin layer of frosting. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour.
• Let crumb-coated cake stand at room temperature for 45 minutes. Frost entire cake with remaining frosting in a swirling motion using a large offset spatula. Let stand at room temperature until ready to serve (up to 8 hours).

CHOCOLATE CHURCH CAKE

Steps:

• Make the frosting: In a large saucepan, bring sugar and cream to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 6 minutes. Meanwhile, chop chocolate and cube butter. After the sugar mixture has simmered for 6 minutes, turn the heat off and add chocolate and butter to the saucepan. Stir until everything is melted. Stir in the vanilla. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature while you make the cake. Do not stir until it has cooled almost entirely, likely for as long as it will take you to mix and bake the cake.
• Make the cake: Heat oven to 325 degrees. Coat three 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Cut three rounds of parchment paper to fit the bottom of each pan and line each pan with one. Spray the parchment. Sprinkle the pans with cocoa powder to coat, tapping each pan over the sink or trash can to shake loose any excess.
• Meanwhile, in a very large bowl, whisk the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Make a well in the center. Bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil while you prepare your wet ingredients.
• Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla in a medium bowl. Pour into the dry mixture and whisk gently until incorporated. It will be a bit clumpy but gently work it in. Pour in the boiling water to loosen the batter and gently whisk to combine, being careful not to splash.
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans. Each pan should hold about 700 grams of batter. (Weighing your batter ensures even cooking and beautiful cake building.) Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs, 32 to 35 minutes. Set the pans on a wire rack to cool.
• When cakes are cooled, revisit your frosting, whisking to thicken and making sure not to overbeat or add any air or fluff to the frosting. Turn the cakes out of their pans and discard the parchment. Trim any rounded top off of each as evenly as possible.
• Assemble the cake: Scoop about 3/4 cup of frosting on one layer set on a cake plate, then repeat with the second and third layers. You can refrigerate the cake in between frosting each layer to ensure that your frosting is set and firm so that your next layer will be propped up properly. If the frosting is too soft, the next layer will just flatten the filling. Frost the outside of the cake with the remaining frosting, letting it chill as you go if needed. Use an offset spatula or butter knife dipped in hot water and wiped clean to smooth and shine the finished cake. This cake keeps and is best served at room temperature for up to 2 days. It holds remarkably well in the refrigerator for up to one week and can be served cold.