Foodie Byte: Although the cake may not appear to be done, remove it from the oven when an instant-read thermometer registers 140 degrees F. It will continue to firm up as it cools.

Fabulous Flourless Chocolate Cake
Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 8 large eggs, cold
• 1 pound high quality bitter sweet chocolate, chopped coarse
• 1 pound high quality semi-sweet chocolate, chopped coarse
• 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) butter, unsalted, cut into 16 pieces
• 1/4 cup strong black coffee or liqueur (optional)
• Confectioners’ sugar or unsweetened cocoa for dusting the cake (optional)

Preparation

1. Position oven rack to the lower-middle part of the oven and heat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Line the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper or waxed paper and grease the sides of the pan.
3. Beat eggs in a bowl of a standing mixer at high speed until the volume doubles, about 5 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate and butter (adding the coffee, if using) in a large heatproof bowl set over a pan of almost-simmering water until smooth and very warm (about 115 degrees on a instant-read thermometer), stirring once or twice. Fold a third of the egg foam into the chocolate mixture using a large rubber spatula until only a few streaks of egg are visible; fold in half of the remaining foam, then the last of the foam, until the mixture is totally incorporated.
5. Scrape the batter into the prepared springform pan and smooth the surface with a rubber spatula. Set the roasting pan on the oven rack and pour in enough boiling water to come about halfway up the sides of the springform pan. Bake until the cake has risen slightly, the edges are just beginning to set, a thin glazed crust has formed on the surface, and an instant-read thermometer inserted halfway into the center reads 140 degrees F, 22 to 25 minutes.
6. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Recipe and image courtesy of The Food Channel

Post from: Blisstree

Fabulous Flourless Chocolate Cake

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Post from: Blisstree

A Few (Sweet) Weekend Food Links

It’s not too early to be planning the desserts for your holiday feasts. This cake from the people at Louana Foods is as tasty as it is attractive.

HOLIDAY CAKE WITH KIWI
Ingredients
Cake:
• Cooking spray
• 1 cup LouAna vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 (8-ounce) carton sour cream
• 3 cups grated carrots
• 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans

Frosting:
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons chopped pecan halves, toasted
• 3 tablespoons chopped, pitted dates
• 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped raisins

Garnish:
• 2 kiwis, peeled and sliced long-ways
• Pecan halves
• Maraschino cherries

Preparation and Cooking:
• Preheat oven to 350°.

• Line bottoms of 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with waxed paper; coat with cooking spray. Combine and stir oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract and eggs in a large bowl. Stir flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and nutmeg in separate bowl. Alternately add flour mixture and sour cream to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; stir just until combined. Stir in carrot and pecans. Divide batter between pans. Bake for 45 minutes. If you insert a toothpick in the center and it comes out clean, it’s ready. Cool pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove cakes; cool completely on racks.

• For frosting, combine and beat butter and cream cheese. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth. Remove 1 1/4 cups frosting and add pecans, dates and raisins; set remaining frosting aside.

• Place one cake layer on a plate; top with nut and fruit mixture. Place second cake layer on top. Spread very thin layer of frosting over top and sides of cake, which eases the main frosting process. Chill cake and remaining frosting 1 hour. Spread remaining frosting over entire cake.

• Garnish with kiwi, pecans and cherries.

Serves 10 people. Visit www.louana.com for more recipes.

^{(recipe and photo courtesy of Louana.com)}

Post from: Blisstree

Holiday Cake with Kiwi