Haunted Black Forest Layer Cake Martha Stewart Halloween 2007 Recipes

HAUNTED BLACK FOREST LAYER CAKE - MARTHA STEWART HALLOWEEN 2007

Steps:

• Make the genoise: Preheat oven to 400 degrees, with rack in lower third. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment; butter the parchment. Dust with cocoa powder, tapping out excess.
• Whisk together flower, salt, and cocoa powder in a bowl.
• Put eggs, egg yolks, and granulated sugar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer. Set over (not touching) a pan of simmering water, and whisk until sugar has dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch. Attach bowl to mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed for 2 minutes. Raise speed to high. Beat until mixture is pale and thick, about 4 minutes more.
• Remove bowl from mixer. Sift flour mixture over the top; using large rubber spatula, carefully fold into egg mixture, cutting through middle and lifting gently over sides. When almost incorporated, pour melted butter down side of bowl; gently fold in to incorporate.
• Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake until centers spring back when lightly touched, about 15 minutes.
• Let cool in pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife around sides of pan. Invert onto rack; remove parchment, and turn right side up on rack.
• Make the Kirsch simple syrup: Heat sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until sugar has dissolved. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in kirsch. (The syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 month).
• Make the cherry filling: Whisk reserved cherry juice, sugar, kirsch, and cornstarch in a small saucepan until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 8 minutes. Let cool slightly. Combine syrup and cherries in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use, up to 2 days.
• Make the ganache: Bring cream to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour over chocolate in a bowl. Let stand 5 minutes. Slowly whisk until smooth. Let cool completely, stirring often with a rubber spatula.
• Make the espresso whipped cream: Beat cream until soft peaks form. Add sugar and espresso powder, and beat until soft peaks return.
• Assemble the cake: Slice each cake in half horizontally. Place once cake layer, cut side up, on a cake stand. Brush top with 1/4 cup kirsch syrup. Spread with 2 cups whipped cream, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Remove cherries from filling syrup with slotted spoon, and transfer to medium bowl. Scatter 1 1/4 cup cherries evenly over whipped cream. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons filling syrup. Repeat 2 times . Place final cake layer, cut side down, on top, and spread with ganache. Serve immediately.

INSIDE-OUT BLACK FOREST CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter three 8 inch round cake pans-line bottoms with parchment paper.
• Butter parchment paper and dust with flour, tapping out excess.
• Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl sift together all the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
• With a mixer on medium speed cream all the butter and granulated sugar until fluffy.
• Add the brown sugar beating until fluffy.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Mix in the sour cream.
• Reduce speed to low.
• Add the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the buttermilk.
• Divide batter evenly among the prepared cake pans.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean.
• Place on wire racks and cool completely.
• When cool run a knife around sides of pans to loosen-remove cakes.
• Drain cherries, reserving 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons juice.
• Combine juice and kirsch.
• Using a serated knife cut off the tops of cakes so that they are level.
• Brush tops of cakes with the kirsch mixture.
• Place a cake layer on a serving plate.
• Spread 1 and 1/2 cups pastry cream evenly over cake.
• Arrange 15 drained cherries evenly over top.
• Place second cake layer, brushed side up on top.
• Spread with remaining pastry cream, top with 15 drained cherries.
• Place third cake layer, brushed side DOWN.
• To serve warm ganache in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water, JUST until spreadable.
• Pour onto the middle of top cake layer.
• Spread evenly, allowing some to drizzle down sides.
• Garnish with remaining cherries.
• Pastry Cream.
• With an electric mixer on medium high whisk whole eggs, yolks and 1/2 cup sugar until pale and thick.
• Sift in cornstarch.
• Whisk on medium low speed until combined.
• Prepare a ice water bath.
• In a medium saucepan bring milk and remaining 1/4 cup sugar to a boil.
• Whisking constantly slowly pour half the milk mixture into the egg mixture whisking until smooth.
• Pour mixture back into saucepan with remaining milk-whisk over medium heat until mixture reaches the consistency of mayo-around 3 minutes.
• Pass through a fine sieve into a large bowl-discard solids.
• Add butter a few pieces at a time stirring until melted.
• Set bowl in ice-water bath until chilled.
• Stir in vanilla.
• Cover with plastic wrap pressing directly onto surface.
• Chill until set-around 2-3 hours.
• Ganache.
• Finely chop chocolate in a food processor.
• In a small saucepan stir together cream and honey.
• Bring to a boil.
• With food processor running slowly pour hot cream mixture through the feed tube.
• Process until well combined.
• Transfer to a bowl-cover with plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate at least 3 hours-up to two days.

BLACK FOREST UPSIDE-DOWN CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place 1 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon cherry juice in the bottom of each of two 8-ounce ramekins. Microwave ramekins until butter and brown sugar are melted and bubbling, about 1 minute. Arrange cherries in a tightly packed layer in the bottom of each ramekin.
• In a small bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. In another small bowl, stir together 2 tablespoons butter and 1/3 cup brown sugar with a wooden spoon until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Stir in egg yolk, then flour mixture and milk. Divide batter between ramekins.
• Place ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a cake comes out with only a few crumbs attached, about 30 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack, 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, beat cream, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, and rum until soft peaks form. Run a paring knife around edge of each cake and invert onto a plate. Serve cakes with rum whipped cream.