Monday, September 28, 2009

Beatty's Chocolate Cake

I’m finally back. Still nursing a slight headache but the Barefoot Bloggers recipe that I missed is helping me get back on track. You know chocolate therapy! This last recipe of the month was picked by Mary of Passionate Perseverance. Mary chose Beatty’s Chocolate Cake which can be found in Barefoot Contessa at Home or at the bottom of this post. This cake is out of this world. It will now be my go to chocolate cake recipe. My one and only complaint is that the espresso was a bit too much. I will reduce the amount next time but definitely keep it in. The comment to the side of the cookbook recipe states to make sure you use two 8 inch by 2 inch cake pans or the batter will run over. I used three 9 inch pans and I was very happy with the appearance of the cake and had no oven fires to put out. Yummy cake! Thank you Mary for choosing this recipe. Don’t know what Barefoot Bloggers are? Click here Barefoot Bloggers.


Ina’s Recipe:

Ingredients

  • Butter, for greasing the pans
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cups good cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk, shaken
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee

Directions

Chocolate Buttercream, recipe follows
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter 2 (8-inch) round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans.
Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.
Place 1 layer, flat side up, on a flat plate or cake pedestal. With a knife or offset spatula, spread the top with frosting. Place the second layer on top, rounded side up, and spread the frosting evenly on the top and sides of the cake.

Chocolate Frosting:

6 ounces good semisweet chocolate (recommended: Callebaut)
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 extra-large egg yolk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon instant coffee powder


Chop the chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until just melted and set aside until cooled to room temperature.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until light yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and continue beating for 3 minutes. Turn the mixer to low, gradually add the confectioners' sugar, then beat at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until smooth and creamy. Dissolve the coffee powder in 2 teaspoons of the hottest tap water. On low speed, add the chocolate and coffee to the butter mixture and mix until blended. Don't whip! Spread immediately on the cooled cake.

24 comments:

Redkathy said...

Chocolate therapy, I can relate. I hate those headaches. I haven't had one in over a year now, thank the Lord! Your cake looks absolutely scrumptious.

Claudia said...

Glad you're feeling better. And oh my - what a delectable creation - I will definitely try this and make our chocoholics very happy. I am in chocolate dreamland.

Amy Nicole said...

I have the same comment I always have when reading your blog. Yummy!!!!!!!

Unknown said...

I'm sorry you aren't completely rid of your headache but glad you're feeling better :)! I'd about bet this delicious cake would cure any of my ills. You did a great job on it...it looks soooo good!

chow and chatter said...

oh wow what a wonderful cake tweeting this great job, Rebecca

Anonymous said...

I'm sure this amazing cake will help with the headache! It looks amazing! Hope you're feeling better soon!

The Buttery Girls

Suzie said...

Your cake looks spectacular - I especially love the shot of the oozing frosting. There's nothing quite like chocolate cake is there?

surfingtheworldcuisine said...

I'm glad to hear that your chocolate therapy is helping you!!! :) Nice cake and yummy looking frosting!!!

Karine said...

Chocolate therapy is so efficient! ++I love your cake. Great job!

HappyTummy said...

Hope you are feeling better! It sure seems like it--this cake is beautiful. Wasn't it delicious? I've made this cake quite a few times--it's my go-to chocolate cake. I love it! You did a great job.

Palidor said...

I'm glad you're feeling better! That chocolate cake looks to die for! I love seeing the frosting oozing out between the layers.

Rowena said...

This looks undeniably wicked, and would probably cure me of my ailments too! I like the part where you wrote chocolate therapy....isn't that so true?!!

Juliana said...

I am glad that you are feeling better :-) This chocolate cake definitely can make anyone feel better...totally yummie!

Leslie said...

I'm glad you're on the mend and got to make this cake! Chocolate has magical healing powers so you'll be back to normal soon!

♥peachkins♥ said...

this cake looks so fantastic, you left me craving for a slice..

Jackie at PhamFatale.com said...

I like the idea of a chocolate therapy. Hope you feel better...

You chocolate cake look so moist and delicious :)

Penny said...

You did well with the cake. Mine was too woobly and delicate. Glad you are feeling better.

Jennifer said...

That is one yummy looking cake, wayy to complex for me!

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

How yummy can you get? This yummy.

petite nyonya said...

Wow, this is definitely a hard to resist cake! Looks amazing! Chocolate therapy does wonders and hope you're feeling much better now.

George Gaston said...

A true chocoholic’s delight! Your enticing photos definitely have my attention & desire to try your decadent chocolate cake. Can’t wait…

Ciao Chow Linda said...

How could I have missed this one? It looks fabulously chocolate-y. and I would probably love all that espresso flavor. But I cannot eat chocolate with or immediately after a migraine. So glad you got over yours.

Anonymous said...

Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!

Anonymous said...

It's interesting to see just how pervasive memory has become in our every day lives. It's like everytime I turn my head, I see something with a card slot or USB jack . I guess it makes sense though, considering how much cheaper memory has become as of late...

Gahhhhh... I shouldn't be complaining. I can't get by a single day without using my R4 / R4i!

(Posted using qqPost for R4i Nintendo DS.)