My Lime Green Kitchen

Posts Tagged ‘Chocolate’

This cake batter seems a little runny when you pour it in the pans and it always makes me wonder if I left something out but then I remember that last time I made it, it seemed a little runny too and it always works. And, it’s always good and it never lasts more than a few days around here.

I’ve never had this cake turn out less than perfect and anyone who has tasted it loves it.

Chocolate Cake

Cake:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cups cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1-1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup hot or warm coffee

Preheat the oven to 350°. Line two round cake pans with waxed or parchment paper. Line with parchment paper. Grease and flour the sides of the pan. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t.

Mix together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt on low speed until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Slowly add this mixture to the dry ingredients in the mixing bowl, continuing to mix just til everything is blended well. Add the coffee and stir just to combine. Pour the batter into the pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool in the pans for 15 – 20 minutes, then remove from pans and cool completely before icing.

Icing:

6 ounces semisweet chocolate
2 sticks butter, at room temp
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar

Melt the chocolate in double boiler. Allow to cool slightly

Beat the butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and continue beating for a couple of minutes. Gradually add the powdered sugar, then beat at medium speed, until smooth and any lumps are gone. Add the melted chocolate and mix well. If the icing is too thick, add a little cream or milk. If it isn’t thick enough, add a bit more powdered sugar.

Add icing to the cooled cake.

Breakfast Banana Bruschetta

This recipe is great and very quick to fix.

6 – 1/2 to 3/4-inch thick slices sweet Hawaiian bread, or any French bread
1 medium banana, mashed
1/2 cup softened cream cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 medium bananas, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/4 c. brown sugar
Sifted powdered sugar

Toast bread and let cool. Combine mashed banana, cream cheese, and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Spread some of the mixture over each toasted bread slice.

Place slices on a cookie sheet. Layer banana slices on top of cream cheese mixture. Brush bananas with melted butter or margarine. Sprinkle with brown sugar.

Broil bruschetta 4 to 5-inches from the heat for 30 to 60 seconds or until banana slices just begin to glaze. Sprinkle tops with sifted powdered sugar and serve with warm maple syrup.

This recipe is pretty easy to make, makes a beautiful pie and is way less expensive if you make it when strawberries are in season.

Ingredients:

4 squares Almond Bark, chocolate flavored, divided
1 T. oil
1 tsp. oil
1 pie shell, baked
2 – 3 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
4 T. sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups strawberries, hulled

Directions:

In a saucepan or in the microwave, melt 3 squares of the chocolate bark, along with the 1 Tablespoon of oil.  Do not allow to scorch!  A double boiler can be used or it can be melted over a very low heat, or in the microwave.  Working quickly, spread melted chocolate over the bottom and up the sides of the pie crust.  Use the back side of an oiled spoon to spread the chocolate.

In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla until smooth.  Pour over chocolate layer.  Chill at least 2 hours.

Place strawberries, pointed end up, on top of the filling.

Melt the remaining square of bark with the tsp. oil.  Drizzle over the strawberries.

Keep in the fridge til ready to serve.

Adapted from Taste of Home Contest Winning Recipes, 2006.

Chocolate Cake – This makes 36 cupcakes or you can make a sheet cake or a 2 layer cake.

2-1/4 cups all purpose flour
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
2/3 cup cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 sticks butter, softened but not melted
3 large eggs or 4 small eggs, at room temp
1-1/2 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. If using cake pans, grease and flour pans. If making cupcakes, line pans with paper liners.
Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
Cream together sugar and butter. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
Add flour mixture, alternating with milk.
Add vanilla.
Pour into prepared pans. For cake, bake 30 – 35 minutes. For cupcakes, bake 15 – 20 minutes. Check with tester/toothpick.

Cool completely and frost. I used Buttercream Icing.

2 sticks butter, softened but not melted
1 pound powdered sugar
Cream or Half & Half to get to desired consistency (I use cream)
Flavoring (I mostly use almond for my icing but you could use any flavor you like)

Cream butter til fluffy and smooth. Add powdered sugar. Add cream til it reaches the desired consistency. Add flavoring . . different brands are stronger so use whatever it takes to achieve the flavor you want. Food coloring can also be added at this point.