King Arthur Blackout Cake Recipes

KING ARTHUR BLACKOUT CAKE

Steps:

• To make the filling: Place the chocolate chips, salt, sugar, and espresso powder in a blender or food processor and pulse until finely ground.
• Add the egg and pulse just until the mixture is smooth.
• Heat the cream to just below a boil, with small bubbles forming around the edge of the saucepan (or microwave-safe bowl).
• Turn on the blender or processor, and slowly add the cream. Scrape down the sides of the container if necessary. Add the flavoring of your choice and pulse to blend.
• Pour the pudding into a shallow bowl, and refrigerate it until chilled and thickened, 2 hours to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F Lightly grease two 8" x 2" round cake pans. Line them with 8" parchment circles, if desired, and grease the parchment; this step will ensure your cake's crumble-free turnout from the pan.
• To make the cake: Whisk together the dry ingredients.
• Add the eggs, oil, and vanilla; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl.
• Stir in the water; the batter will be thin.
• Pour the batter into the two prepared pans.
• Bake the cakes for 35 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Remove the cakes from the oven. Cool them for 15 minutes, then turn them out of the pans to cool completely on a rack.
• To make the icing: Combine the cream and chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl or in a saucepan. Heat until the cream is steaming and showing small bubbles around the edge.
• Remove the chocolate/cream from the microwave or burner, and stir until the chocolate is melted and the mixture becomes completely smooth, with no lighter areas remaining visible.
• Refrigerate the icing for 30 minutes. Beat the chilled icing briefly, until it thickens a bit and becomes spreadable.
• To assemble the cake: Cut the domed tops off both cake layers; these will become your crumb coating.
• Place one layer on a serving plate. For best presentation, lay strips of parchment around the edge of the plate before laying the cake on top; these will catch the inevitable icing drips, and can be removed once you're done icing the cake.
• Top the cake with the filling, spreading it evenly to the edges.
• Center the second layer of cake atop the filling.
• Spread the icing over the top and onto the sides of the cake.
• Crumble the reserved cake, and gently press it onto the top and sides of the assembled cake.
• Serve immediately, or within a couple of hours. For longer storage, refrigerate. This cake is best served the same day it's made, or within 24 hours. Freeze, well-wrapped, for longer storage. You may also choose to freeze individual slices - for those times when you HAVE to have a piece of chocolate cake!

ALL-CHOCOLATE BLACKOUT CAKE FROM EBINGER'S

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Butter and lightly flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
• Make the cake: Place the cocoa in a small bowl and whisk in the boiling water to form a paste.
• Combine the chocolate and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat.
• Stir frequently until the chocolate melts, about 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Whisk a small amount of the hot chocolate milk into the cocoa paste to warm it.
• Whisk the cocoa mixture into the milk mixture.
• Return the pan to medium heat an stir for 1 minute.
• Remove and set aside to cool until tepid.
• In the bowl of a mixer, cream the butter and sugar together.
• Beat in the egg yolks, one at a time, and add the vanilla.
• Slowly stir in the chocolate mixture.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• Using a spatula or a wooden spoon, slowly add the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture.
• Fold until just mixed.
• In another bowl, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the batter.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cakes comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
• Cool the cakes in the pans on a rack for 15 minutes.
• Gently remove the cakes from the pans and continue to cool.
• While the cake is baking, make the filling: Combine the cocoa and boiling water in a small saucepan over low heat.
• Stir in the sugar and chocolate.
• Add the dissolved cornstarch paste and salt to the pan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Boil for 1 minute.
• Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the vanilla and butter.
• Transfer the mixture to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until cool.
• Make the frosting: Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over hot, not simmering, water, stirring until smooth.
• Remove the top of the double boiler from the heat and whisk in the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time.
• Return the top to the hat, if necessary, to melt the butter.
• Whisk in the hot water all at once and whisk until smooth.
• Whisk in the corn syrup and vanilla.
• Cover and refrigerate for up to 15 minutes prior to using.
• Assemble the cake: Use a sharp serrated knife to slice each cake layer horizontally in half to form 4 layers.
• Set 1 layer aside.
• Place 1 layer on a cake round or plate.
• Generously swath the layer with 1/3 of the filling.
• Add the second layer and repeat.
• Set the third layer on top.
• Quickly apply a layer of frosting to the top and the sides of the cake.
• Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, crumble the remaining cake layer.
• Apply the remaining frosting to the cake.
• Sprinkle it liberally with the cake crumbs.
• Serve the cake within 24 hours, store in a cool place.
• Note: The filling ingredients make for a very runny filling, which is how a real Ebinger's cake should be.
• For those who desire a less syrupy consistency, they can stir in an additional 1 to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch.