Perfect Recipe

Chocolate and Banana Cake

Ingredients:

100g plain chocolate
100g unsalted butter , softened
175g golden caster sugar
3 eggs , beaten
175g all-purpose flour
2 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
25g cocoa
3 or 4 large bananas , peeled and mashed

Topping:

6 tbsp chocolate powder
12 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp butter
1 and 1/2 cup milk

Directions:

For the cake:

Heat the oven to 160°C. Butter and line the bases of 2 x 450g loaf tins with baking parchment. Melt the chocolate either in the microwave or in a small glass bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir until smooth and remove from the heat.
Cream together the softened butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy. Gradually add the egg, beating well between each addition. Sift together the flour, baking powder and cocoa and fold in using a large metal spoon. Add the mashed banana and chocolate and mix well.
Divide the mixture between the 2 tins and top each with the streusel. Bake for about 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool on a rack, then wrap in baking parchment or foil.

For the topping:
Mix all the ingredients in a small saucepan and cook over high heat until it boils. Pour it over the cake when is still hot.

Devil’s Food Cupcake with Passion Fruit Filling

Ingredients:

1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup dark or regular unsweetened cocoa powder
1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
1 cup buttermilk

Filling:
250g white chocolate, finely chopped
200g whipping cream
1/8 cup (30ml) concentrated bottled passion fruit juice

To brush the cake:
½ tablespoon concentrated bottled passion fruit juice diluted in 4 tablespoons water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Oil two 7.9inch (20cm) springform cake pan and line the bottom with baking paper.

Start by making the filling: place the cream in a saucepan and heat until it is nearly boiling. Remove from heat and add the chocolate all at once. Whisk until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is silky and smooth. Add the juice, mix well; refrigerate it, well covered, for 4-6 hours or until set.

To make the cupcakes, in a medium sized mixing bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, beat oil, butter, granulated sugar and vanilla, until creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until well combined. Beat in 1 cup melted chocolate chips until combined. Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk, until well combined, about 2-3 minutes.
Divide batter into cupcakes pans. Bake 20 minutes, or until just set, and a toothpick inserted into cake comes out with moist crumbs attached. Cool for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Chocolate Bavaroise

Ingredients:

200g dark chocolate, chopped
375ml milk (1c + 2/8c)
4 egg yolks
90g sugar (1/2c)
1 tbsp unflavored gelatin
315ml whipping or heavy cream

Directions:

Heat the milk with the chocolate, stir until the chocolate has melted. Do not boil. Leave to cool a little then remove the pod.
Whisk the egg yolks and caster sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the milk mixture into the egg and whisk to combine. Pour back into the pan and stir with a wooden spoon over low heat until the mixture coats the back of the spoon. Do not boil. Set aside.
Dissolve gelatin in 2 tbsp of hot water and stir in the chocolate mixture. Refrigerate until cold, stir occasionally.
Whip the cream until it stands in soft peaks and. When the mixture is cold, fold the cream into the chocolate mixture. Pour into the moulds and put in the fridge to set over night.

Brazilian Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

Cake:
3 eggs
2 cups of sugar
2 cups of flour
1/2 cup of vegetable oil
1 cup of cocoa powder or chocolate drink mix
1 cup of hot water
1 tbsp of baking powder
1 pinch of salt

Topping:
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of cocoa powder or chocolate drink mix
3 tbsp of butter
1/2 cup of milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13×9 inches pan.

In a mixer, mix the eggs and sugar. Add the oil, and sifted flour. Mix the chocolate and the hot water and beat well. Add the baking powder and whisk slowly.
Pour the batter into prepared pan. Bake for about 30 to 40 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean.

For the topping:
Mix all the ingredients in a small saucepan and cook over high heat until it boils. Pour it over the cake when is still hot.

Carrot and Chocolate Cupcake

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups brown sugar
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 e 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
3 cups carrots, finely grated
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil

Ganache:
300g semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
150g heavy cream
2 tbsp honey

Directions:

Cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine carrots, sugar, oil, and eggs in a large bowl. Combine sifted flour, cocoa, soda, baking powder and salt, stirring with a whisk. Add flour mixture to carrot mixture; stir until smooth.
Spoon batter into 12 cupcakes cups lined with paper liners. Bake at 350° for 22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack, and remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Ganache:
Place the chopped chocolate in a medium sized stainless steel bowl. Set aside. Heat the cream and honey in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil. Immediately pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Stir with a whisk until smooth. Decorate the cupcakes.

Devil’s Food Cupcakes
± 24 cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup dark or regular unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
1 cup buttermilk

Frosting:
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 24 muffin cups with liners.
To make the cake, in a medium sized mixing bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, beat oil, butter, granulated sugar and vanilla, until creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until well combined. Beat in 1 cup melted chocolate chips until combined. Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk, until well combined, about 2-3 minutes.
Divide batter into muffin cups. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until just set, and a toothpick inserted into cake comes out with moist crumbs attached. Cool for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

To make the frosting, in a small saucepan, whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa, salt and milk; bring to a boil, whisking frequently. Boil 1 minute or until thickened; remove pan from heat and strain mixture into a small bowl. Cool completely in the refrigerator or freezer.
Beat the butter until creamy, about 1 minute, in a large mixing bowl, using a mixer on medium speed. Beat in “chocolate pudding” mixture until well combined, about 1 minute. Beat in melted chocolate until well combined and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Spread or pipe frosting on to cupcakes.

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Squares
Makes 64 (1-inch) cheesecake squares

Ingredients:

For crust:
3 1/2 oz graham crackers, crumbled (1cup)
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For filling:
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin (from a 1/4-oz envelope, will be just about half an envelope)
1/4 cup whole milk
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs
3/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup dulce de leche (12 1/2 oz) (recipe follows)

For glaze:
3 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), coarsely chopped
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 teaspoons light corn syrup

Directions:

Make crust: Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 325°F. Line bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with 2 sheets of foil (crisscrossed), leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides.

Finely grind crackers with sugar and a pinch of salt in a food processor. With motor running, add butter, blending until combined. Press mixture evenly onto bottom of baking pan. Bake 10 minutes, then cool in pan on a rack 5 minutes.

Make filling: Sprinkle gelatin over milk in a small bowl and let stand 2 minutes to soften. Beat together cream cheese, eggs, salt, and gelatin mixture in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until well combined, about 2 minutes, then stir in dulce de leche gently but thoroughly. Pour filling over crust, smoothing top, then bake in a hot water bath (I was able to fit mine in a 9×13-inch baking pan) in oven until center is just set, about 45 minutes. Cool cheesecake completely in pan on rack, about 2 hours. Chill, covered, at least 6 hours.

Glaze cake within 2 hours of serving: Heat all glaze ingredients in a double boiler or a small metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring until smooth, then pour over cheesecake, tilting baking pan to coat top evenly. Chill, uncovered, 30 minutes.

Lift cheesecake from pan using foil overhang and cut into 1-inch squares with a thin knife, wiping off knife after each cut. (Don’t skip this step! A clean knife is essential for uber-neat squares.)

Note: Cheesecake (without glaze) can be chilled up to 3 days.

Dulce de Leche (Milk Caramel)

Most of the world makes this by boiling the milk inside a closed can, but  according to the Carnation can label , is not recommended by them. This method works just as well.

Pour one can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk into top of double-boiler pan; cover. Place over boiling water. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 40 to 50 minutes, or until thick and light caramel-colored.

Remove from heat. Whisk until smooth.

Supernatural Brownies

Ingredients:

2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter
8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
4 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour

Directions:

One 13×9×2-inch pan, buttered and lined with buttered parchment or foil
Set the rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.
Bring a saucepan of water to a boil and turn off heat. Combine butter and chocolate in a heat proof bowl and set over pan of water. Stir occasionally until melted.
Whisk eggs together in a large bowl, then whisk in the salt, sugars, and vanilla. Stir in the chocolate and butter mixture, then fold in the flour.
Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for about 45 minutes, until top has formed a shiny crust and batter is moderately firm. Cool in pan on a rack. Wrap pan in plastic wrap and keep at room temperature or refrigerated until the next day.
To cut brownies, unmold onto a cutting board, remove paper, and replace with another cutting board. Turn cake right side up and trim away edges. Cut brownies into 2-inch squares.

Outrageous Brownies
(Ina Garten)

Ingredients:

1 pound unsalted butter
1 pound plus 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, divided
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
6 extra-large eggs
3 tablespoons instant coffee powder or cocoa powder
2 tablespoons real vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided (1 cup for batter and 1/4 cup in the chips and nuts)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 cups diced walnut pieces

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 13 by 18 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan.
Melt together the butter, 1 pound chocolate chips, and unsweetened chocolate on top of a double boiler. Cool slightly. Stir together the eggs, instant coffee, vanilla and sugar. Stir in the warm chocolate mixture and cool to room temperature.
Stir together 1 cup of the flour and baking powder. Add to cooled chocolate mixture. Toss the walnuts and 12 ounces of chocolate chips with 1/4 cup flour to coat. Then add to the chocolate batter. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake for about 30 minutes, or until tester just comes out clean. Halfway through the baking, rap the pan against the oven shelf to allow air to escape from between the pan and the brownie dough. Do not over-bake! Cool thoroughly, refrigerate well and cut into squares.

Carrot Cupcake with Chocolate Frosting
(20 muffins)

Ingredients:

Cupcake:

125g (1 – 1/2) chopped carrots
130g (1 cup) all purpose flour
160g (1 cup) sugar
2 eggs
100ml vegetable oil
1/2 tbsp baking powder
one small pinch of salt

Frosting:

2 tbsp sweetened cocoa powder
5 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp butter
1/2 cup of milk

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 180ºC/355ºF. Grease and flour a 30cm round pan. Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend for a couple of minutes until you get a creamy mixture. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 45-50 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

For the icing: mix all the ingredients in a small saucepan and cook over high heat until it boils. Poure it over the cake when is still hot.