Babs Chocolate Birthday Cake With Buttercream Icing Recipes

CHOCOLATE BABKA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. In a small saucepan, heat water to 120°-130°; stir into dry ingredients. Stir in eggs and yolk, orange zest and enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky)., Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight., Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Roll each half into a 12x10-in. rectangle. For filling, in a microwave, melt butter and chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Stir in confectioners' sugar, cocoa and salt. Spread filling to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam and ends to seal., Using a sharp knife, cut each roll lengthwise in half; carefully turn each half cut side up. Loosely twist strips around each other, keeping cut surfaces facing up; pinch ends together to seal. Place in 2 greased 9x5-in. loaf pans, cut side up. Cover with kitchen towels; let rise in a warm place until almost doubled, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 375°., Bake until golden brown, 35-45 minutes, tenting with foil halfway through baking. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine sugar and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. Brush over warm babka. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

BABS CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY CAKE WITH BUTTERCREAM ICING

Steps:

• For cake: Put oven on to 350°F Grease and flour two 8-inch cake pans.
• In a large bowl, mix together first five (dry) ingredients. Make well in bowl for wet ingredients.
• In a separate medium bowl, mix together oil, milk and eggs. Pour into the well in dry ingredients.
• As you begin to beat the batter, add the cup of hot coffee. Beat until well mixed then for two minutes on high.
• Pour into prepared pans. Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick placed in center comes out dry.
• Cool for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and continue to cool on racks until completely cooled. Finish by icing with Buttercream that follows:.
• For Icing: Cream butter and shortening with mixer. Add vanilla extract.
• Gradually add confectioners' sugar while continually beating with mixer. Icing will seem dry.
• Add milk continually, mixing and scraping sides of bowl, until icing appears light and right consistency for icing cake.
• Cover until you are ready to icing. May be stored in refrigerator for 2 weeks if not used completely.
• Makes about 3 cups.

BASIC CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM ICING

Steps:

• Beat butter and 1/4 cup cocoa powder together in a bowl with an electric mixer on low until light and fluffy. Gradually add milk, remaining 1/4 cup cocoa powder, and vanilla extract; beat until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar, about 2 tablespoons at a time, until desired consistency is reached.