Bakingwhiz’s

A Chocolate Cake is always known for being the very first cake made by beginners. Count me in! Aside from being the common dessert being served in most gatherings, it is one of the accounted all-time favorite. And a lot of home bakers and professional chefs have continuously created alterations and modifications on the recipe that lead to the various trends in the versatility of the chocolate.

Here’s a recipe I would share to you:

Ingredients:

For cake layers
3 ounces semisweet chocolate
1 1/2 cups hot brewed coffee
3 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
3 large eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla

For frosting
1 pound semisweet chocolate
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/4 cup unsalted butter

Directions for Cake Layers:

1. Grease two 10- by 2-inch round cake pans and preheat oven to 300°F. Line bottoms with rounds of wax paper and grease paper.

2. Finely chop chocolate and in a bowl combine with hot coffee. Let mixture stand, stir occasionally until chocolate is melted and mixture runs smooth.

3. In a large bowl sift together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

4. In a separate large bowl beat eggs until thickened slightly and lemon colored (about 3 minutes with a standing mixer or 5 minutes with a hand-held mixer). Slowly add oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and melted chocolate mixture to eggs, beating until combined well.

5. Add sugar mixture and beat on medium speed until just combined well. Divide batter between pans and bake in middle of oven until a tester inserted in center comes out clean.

6. Cool layers completely in pans on racks. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks. Carefully remove wax paper and cool layers completely.

Baking Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes for each cake layer

Directions for Frosting:

1. Finely chop chocolate. In a 1 1/2- to 2-quart saucepan bring together cream, sugar, and corn syrup to a boil over moderately low heat, whisking until sugar is dissolved.

2. Remove pan from heat and add chocolate, whisking until chocolate is melted. Cut butter into pieces and add to frosting, whisking until smooth.

3. Transfer frosting to a bowl and cool, stirring occasionally, until spreadable.

4. Spread frosting between cake layers and over top and sides.

Serves 12 to 14

Now that’s what I call SUPREME! Head on to your kitchens and start making one! For beginners, this detailed instructional video would definitely help you out.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1/2 cup sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup unbleached white flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup pitted, chopped dates

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

whipping cream

Procedure:

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Butter and flour a 9-inch cake pan.

2. Cream together butter and sugar. With a spoon, beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well.

3. Combine baking powder, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture, beating well.

4. Mix in milk and vanilla. Beat well. Add chopped dates and walnuts and stir to distribute them evenly.

5. Pour batter into prepared cake pan. Bake for about 30 minutes, until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

6. Serve with fresh whipped cream.

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Baking time: 30 minutes

Serves 8 to 10

It’s a bit late now to be receiving Christmas presents. And I got one a few days ago and I find it really cute! We’ve named it “Purpee” - plainly because of its strong purple color. Speaking of purple, I’ve got just the right recipe for those who love purple..

Ube Chiffon Cake

2 1/2 cups cake flour, sifted

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup evaporated milk

1 cup ube, cooked and finely grated

1/2 cup corn syrup

7 egg yolks, slightly beaten

1/2 cup salad oil

1 cup egg whites

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 cup granulated sugar

6 drops red food color

6 drops blue food color

The procedure goes like this:

1. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

2. Mix in vanilla to milk. Set aside.

3. Put in the ube in mixing bowl, gradually stir in milk mixture.

4. Add syrup and egg yolks, stirring constantly.

5. Add oil. Stir in flour mixture gradually.

6. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Add in sugar gradually.

7. Add red and blue food colors and continue beating until stiff but not dry.

8. Fold batter into egg whites.

Baking Temperature: 325 degrees Fahrenheit

Baking Time: 55 minutes (then increase to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes more.)

I was a bit doing cramming yesterday as I was having trouble coming up with a surprise for a friend. Im so preoccupied with my busy schedule that I couldnt imagine having time to somehow make something really special. Then I got to come across the idea of giving away a cake - but to make it more extraordinary… I’ll be the one making it. And that’s how the plan actually root from.

Bake a small cake, candlelight dinner, some balloons, some flowers.. and that special moment…

Now before I go on saying the details, here’s the frosting recipe I would like to share to you..

Chocolate Buttered Frosting

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup water

2 egg yolks

1 whole egg

3/4 cup butter

1/4 cup cocoa

1 teaspoon vanilla

Procedure:

1. Dissolve water and sugar; cook into syrup.

2. Beat the egg yolks and whole egg until lemon-colored.

3. Pour in syrup into egg mixture. Beat until thick.

4. Beat butter slightly and blend in the egg mixture.

5. Add cocoa and vanilla.

Now all you need is a small cake and place this frosting on and chill. Now you have your wonderful present! Ready for the s-u-r-p-r-i-s-e!

What do you usually do when you’re upset? A lot of us may just want to indulge into a sweet slice of your favorite cake. But for chocolate lovers like me, I have here just the right recipe that’s going to leave a smile on your face! Ü

CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE

Ingredients:

2/3 cup butter

1 3/4 cups vanilla

2 pieces eggs

1/4 cup chocolate cocoa

2 1/2 cups cake flour

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Procedure:

1. Mix 1 cup cold water with 1/4 cup evaporated milk.

2. Sift flour, baking soda and salt.

3. Cream butter and gradually add sugar.

4. Add eggs one at a time.

5. Add vanilla and cocoa.

6. Add dry ingredients alternately with water-milk mixture.

Baking Temperature: 350 degrees Fahrenheit

Baking Time: 30 - 35 minutes

This recipe makes about two 9 x 1 1/2-inch round pans. Enjoy!

They say that the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach! haha.. that’s true! BUT. if you’re going to like feed him, you might as well give him what’s fit and right. Do I hear a ‘YES’? Well, anyway I just got this recipe that I find really nutritious.

Pineapple Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

3 cups all purpose flour

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup oil

4 eggs

2 cups carrot, finely grated

1 cup pineapple with syrup, crushed

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon salt

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Grease and line 13 x 9 x 2 rectangular pan. Set aside.

3. Sift together flour, baking powder, and baking soda.

4. Add sugar; mix thoroughly and make a well.

5. Add oil, eggs, carrot, crushed pineapple, and vanilla.

6. Beat for 2 minutes at medium heat using a mixer.

7. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 35 minutes.

8. Bake.

Enjoy! Ü