Jaques Pepins Chocolate SoufflÈ Cake With Raspberry Sauce Recipes

JACQUES' EASY CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Coat a 10-inch cake pan with vegetable cooking spray. Line the bottom of the pan with a 10-inch parchment paper circle. Coat the top of the parchment paper circle with vegetable cooking spray.
• Place both chopped chocolates in a bowl and melt over a double boiler. Combine the sugar and water in a 1-quart saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil until all of the sugar is dissolved. Pour the hot syrup into the bowl of melted chocolate. Whisk until the mixture is homogenous. Add the butter and whisk until well mixed.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sugar until well blended. Using a rubber spatula, fold this mixture into the chocolate mixture. Be careful to mix gently.
• Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Place a baking sheet with 1-inch sides in the oven. Place the filled cake pan on the baking sheet. Fill the baking sheet with water so the water covers the bottom inch of the cake pan. Bake until the cake surface appears dull and taut when pressed in the middle, about 40 minutes.
• Remove the cake pan from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack. Turn off the oven and let the baking sheet and water cool before you attempt to remove them.
• Decoration: If you would like to decorate this cake, you can make chocolate fans or shave a block of chocolate with an apple peeler. To make chocolate fans, stir the vegetable oil into the melted chocolate. Spread a thick layer of the chocolate mixture onto a marble or granite surface (or use the back of a cold baking sheet). Using a triangle, push across the chocolate surface in a curving motion. Place your thumb on one corner of the triangle as you push to catch the chocolate. The result should resemble a chocolate fan. This takes a little practice and not every fan you make will be usable. Have fun with it!

JAQUES PEPIN'S CHOCOLATE SOUFFLÈ CAKE WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. FOR THE CAKE: Grease a 3-inch-deep 9-inch round cake pan or springform with 1 teaspoon of the oil. Combine the chocolate, butter, the remaining 5 teaspoons oil, and the sugar in the top of a double boiler (or in a microwave-safe bowl) and cook over boiling water (or in the microwave) until the chocolate and butter have melted. Stir to combine. Add the potato starch and mix it in with a whisk. Remove from the heat and whisk in the egg yolks; the mixture will thicken. Whip the egg whites in a large bowl until firm. Fold them lightly and as quickly as possible into the chocolate mixture. Pour the batter into the pan, and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes. The cake should still be soft in the center. Let cool to lukewarm. Invert the cake onto a plate, then invert again so it's top side up onto a serving platter (or remove the sides of the springform pan and transfer the cake to the platter). Sprinkle with the confectioners' sugar. FOR THE SAUCE: If not using seedless preserves, strain and combine with the rum and water. To serve, arrange a slice of cake on each of six to eight dessert dishes and spoon some sauce alongside. POTATO STARCH I often use a "pure starch" - generally potato starch or arrowroot - to finish a sauce and give it a bit of viscosity. If nothing else is available, you can substitute cornstarch, but it tends to make a sauce gooey and gelatinous. I prefer potato starch, which is made from steamed potatoes that are dried and ground. Inexpensive and available in 1-pound packages, it can be found in the Kosher section of many supermarkets and in Asian specialty food shops. Arrowroot, comes in very small containers and is very expensive. All of these starches are used in the same way: they are diluted with a little cold liquid and then stirred into a hot sauce. The starch thickens the sauce on contact and then it is usually brought to a boil.

JULIA AND JACQUES'S CHOCOLATE ROULADE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in center. Butter an 11-by-17-inch jelly-roll pan or a 12-by-17 1/2-inch sheet pan, and line with parchment paper.
• In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup cream to a simmer. Add chocolate, reduce heat, and whisk until chocolate is melted. As soon as mixture is a uniform dark color, remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes.
• In a large bowl and using a hand mixer, whip egg whites and 2 tablespoons sugar to stiff, glossy peaks, about 1 1/2 minutes. Whisk one-quarter of the egg-white mixture into the chocolate mixture. Gently fold chocolate mixture back into the original egg-white mixture, and mix until smooth and well combined.
• Pour batter into the prepared pan, and spread it in an even layer with a rubber spatula. Bake until cake is set and puffy, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and cool to room temperature. Lift parchment paper to remove cake from pan, and set it on work surface with long side facing edge of table. Using a fine-mesh sieve, lightly dust cake with cocoa powder.
• Make the creme chantilly: Whip the remaining 1 cup cream with the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar, the vanilla, and cognac. Spread evenly over entire surface of cake.
• Roll the cake lengthwise, starting at a point 2 to 3 inches over the creme chantilly. Roll cake another few inches, pressing against parchment paper to make a tight spiral. Gently peel parchment paper off as cake layer rolls away. Complete the roll, stopping at the far edge of the parchment paper. Tuck the loose parchment paper around and underneath the cylinder so it is well wrapped and can be moved easily. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, transfer roulade to serving platter. Remove parchment paper, gently rolling cake into center of platter, with seam on bottom. (If roll has slumped or twisted, lay a piece of plastic over top and sides, and reshape with hands.) With a sharp knife, trim both ends of roll crosswise or on a diagonal. Dust top with confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder, and garnish with seasonal fruit. To serve, cut the roll into 1-inch-thick slices, and lay flat on dessert plates; top with additional creme chantilly if desired.