Cream-Filled Chocolate Cake

Serves 16

Ingredients:

Filling:
1/4 cup sugar
1 package cream cheese, softened
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cake:
2 cups flour
1&1/2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 large eggs
1&1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Glaze:
2 ounces white chocolate
2 teaspoons vegetable shortening
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips


Method:

- Heat oven to 350°F.

- Combine all filling ingredients in small mixer bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until smooth; set aside.

- Combine all cake ingredients in large mixer bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until all ingredients are moistened. Beat at high speed, scraping bowl often, until smooth.

- Pour 3 cups batter into greased and floured 12-cup bundt pan. Spoon filling over batter without touching sides of pan; cover with remaining batter.

- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 30 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely.

- Melt white chocolate and 1 teaspoon shortening in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until melted (1 to 2 minutes). Drizzle over cooled cake. Let stand until firm.

- Repeat with remaining shortening and chocolate chips. Store refrigerated.

Yumm...

Items needed:

Triple Chocolate Cake - WICKED

Because it's my day and because I'm a chocoholic... here's a rich and delicious cake, filled with a double cream and melted plain chocolate mixture, topped with more melted chocolate and chocolate curls made from white and plain chocolate. Wicked!

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

175g light muscovado sugar
150g self-raising flour
pinch salt
3 tbsp cocoa powder
100g butter
2 medium eggs, beaten
90ml milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Filling and decoration:

2 x 100g bars plain chocolate, broken into pieces
90ml double cream
100g bar white chocolate, broken into pieces
1 tsp cocoa powder

Method:

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C/Gas 4). Grease and base line two 18 cm (7 inch) sandwich tins.

Combine the sugar, flour, salt and cocoa powder in a large mixing bowl. Rub in the butter, using your fingertips, until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Beat the eggs, milk and vanilla together. Add to the bowl and stir well, then spoon into the prepared tins and level the tops. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool for 5 minutes, then turn out and cool completely on a wire rack.

For the filling, melt the plain chocolate in a bowl placed over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Pour about one third of this chocolate onto a marble surface or smooth chopping board and spread it out to about 5 mm (1/4 inch) thick. Chill it in the refrigerator for making curls. Cool the remaining chocolate for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the cream until it holds its shape. Swirl in half the remaining plain chocolate, then use this mixture to sandwich the cakes together. Spread the remaining plain chocolate over the top of the cake.

To make chocolate curls, push a long-bladed knife over the surface of the chilled chocolate. (If it flakes, allow the chocolate to sit at room temperature for a few minutes). Lift the curls onto the cake with a fine skewer or cocktail stick. Melt the white chocolate in the same way to make white chocolate curls and place these on top of the cake. Dust with a little cocoa powder, then serve.

Tip:

Keep the finished cake in the fridge. Remember to let it come to room temperature before you serve it to appreciate its flavour.

White chocolate strawberry trifle

Ingredients:

1/3 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon instant espresso, dissolved in 1/2 cup hot water
4 ounces pound cake
3 ounces shaved white chocolate
3/4 cup sliced strawberries

Mix sugar and egg yolks in blender for 1 minute. Add vanilla & blend until smooth. Chill.
beat the whipping cream until stiff. Add cream cheese mixture and chill.
Slice cake into strips. Dip strips in hot espresso.
Layer half the amount of cake strips, white chocolate, cream cheese mixture & strawberries in a clear bowl. Repeat layers. Cover & chill until serving time.

Enjoy....