Cocoa Layer Cake

I made this cake with my friend Hollie today. We had so much fun and I cannot wait to eat it!!



Recipe

Cake

1/2 C Natural unsweetened cocoa powder
1 C Lukewarm water, divided
1/2 C Buttermilk
1 1/2 C cake flour
3/4 t baking soda
1 C sugar
1/2 (packed) golden brown sugar
1/2 C (1 stick) butter, room temperature
2 Large eggs

Preheat oven to 350. Butter three 9 inch cake pans. Whisk cocoa and 1/2 C warm water in small bowl. Whisk buttermilk and 1/2 C water in another small bowl. Sift flour, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt into medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat both sugars and butter in large bowl until pale yellow and fluffy. With mixer running, gradually add beaten eggs. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Add cocoa mixture. Add flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with buttermilk mixture in 2 additions. Divide batter among pans.

Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean (about 18 min. Cool completely in pans on racks.

Frosting

10 T butter
1 1/3 C golden brown sugar
1 C milk chocolate chips
1 C heavy whipping cream
2 t vanilla extract

Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in sugar, cocoa, chocolate chips, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Gradually stir in cream. Stir until mixture is very hot and just begins to simmer at edges. Reduce heat to low; stir 1 minute. Transfer to medium bowl; stir in vanilla. Frosting will resemble chocolate sauce. Chill until just thickened, stirring occasionally, about 1 1/2 hours. let stand at room temperature.

German Chocolate Cake

This is a special cake for Bruce and I. I have made it for his birthday every year since the night he popped the question. It was February 25,2008 and Bruce was visiting my in College Station, Texas. I wanted to do something fun for his birthday, but he said dont worry about it I have it all planned out. This made me a little suspicious but I was excited to see what he came up with.

So when he picked me up from work we went home and got dressed up since this was a "fancy" place. Then he blind folded me and drove me to the restaurant. He lead me to the front door and took the blind fold off. We were in front of a old glass chapel in the middle of no where lit with candles and a covered with roses and a table for two. My mom made my favorite dinner, and since it was Bruce's birthday she made German Chocolate Cake.



Recipe

1 1/2 C milk chocolate chips
1/2 C butter, softened
2 C packed light brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 C all purpose flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 C sour cream
1 C hot water
2 t vanilla

Melt chocolate chips in a bowl in the microwave stirring every 30 seconds until they are melted. Beat butter and brown sugar at medium speed with an electric mister, beating about 5 minutes until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Add melted chocolate, beating just until blended.
Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to chocolate mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Gradually add 1 cup hot water in a slow steady stream, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in vanilla. Pour into 3 round greased and floured cake pans (or two works). Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes. Check often after 15 minutes, you want the cake to be soft to the touch but dont let it over cook and get dry. Cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove layers from pans and let cool completely on wire rack.

Coconut Pecan Frosting
1 12oz can evaporated milk
1 1/2 C sugar
3/4 C butter
6 egg yolks
1 1/2 t vanilla
2 C chopped pecans
1 1/2 C coconut

Stir together first 4 ingredients in a heavy saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil, and cook, stirring constantly 12 minutes. Remove from heat; add remaining ingredients, and stir until frosting is cool and spreading consistency.

Chocolate Ganache
1 12oz package milk chocolate chips
1/2 C whipping cream
3 T butter

Microwave chocolate morsels and whipping cream in a 2 quart bowl at medium power stirring every 30 seconds until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Whisk in butter; let stand 20 minutes (important). Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer 3 to 5 minutes or until mixture forms soft peaks.



Happy Birthday Bruce! I LOVE YOU!!