Black Pepper Cake Recipes

BLACK PEPPER POUND CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in pepper and extract. Add eggs, one at a time, beating very well after each addition. Add flour alternately with cream and mix well., Pour into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan. Bake at 325° for 70-75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar if desired.

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH BLACK PEPPER BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Make the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3 8-inch round baking pans, line the bottoms of each with a round of parchment paper and grease the paper. Use a little cocoa powder to coat the insides of the pans, rotating pans so the cocoa comes up the sides, then tap out excess.
• In a small bowl, whisk together cocoa powder and 2/3 cup boiling water. Whisk in milk. In a separate bowl, whisk together cake flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• In a large mixing bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, until incorporated. Beat in vanilla. With the mixer running on low speed, beat in a third of the dry ingredients, followed by half the cocoa mixture. Add remaining portions, alternating between two mixtures. Beat until smooth.
• Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake until the centers of the cakes are firm to the touch, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes; turn them out onto the rack to cool completely. (Peel off parchment paper if it sticks to the cakes.)
• Make the buttercream: Fill a medium pot halfway with water (or use a double-boiler) and bring to a simmer. In a heatproof bowl that fits over pot, whisk together egg whites, sugar and salt. Cook, whisking constantly, until the sugar dissolves and mixture reaches 140 degrees on a candy or instant-read thermometer, about 5 minutes.
• Using an electric mixer, whip until completely cooled and thick, about 5 minutes. Beat in butter a little at a time, until the frosting is smooth and spreadable. Beat in vanilla bean seeds and pepper.
• Using a serrated knife, slice each cake in half horizontally. Place one bottom layer on a large platter or cake stand. Top evenly with a thin layer of buttercream. Repeat, alternating between cake and frosting, ending with a layer of cake. Cover cake loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate while you prepare fudge frosting. (Cake can rest in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.)
• Make the frosting: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, heavy cream and salt. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar completely dissolves, about 5 minutes. Scrape mixture into a bowl. Stir in chocolate, butter and vanilla until smooth. Set bowl over a larger bowl filled with ice. Use a hand mixer or an immersion blender with the whisk attachment to whip until mixture is thick and cool, about 5 minutes. Spread frosting over the top and sides of the cake.

BLACKBERRY CREPE CAKE

Steps:

• For the crepes: To a blender, add the milk, flour, granulated sugar, salt and eggs. Blend, cover and refrigerate to sit for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat and add 1 teaspoon of melted butter. Add just enough batter to cover the bottom of the skillet. Let sit, undisturbed, for 60 to 90 seconds. Lift the edge of the crepe to check that it is set and slightly golden, then carefully flip and cook for another 15 to 20 seconds. Remove to a plate and repeat with the remaining butter and batter.
• For the whipped cream: Whip the cream, powdered sugar and vanilla bean paste together in a large bowl until light and airy. Set aside.
• For the assembly: Lay a crepe on a cake stand or large plate. Add 3 tablespoons of whipped cream, then spread over, leaving a small gap around the edge. Next, add about a tablespoon of the lemon curd and disperse as best you can over the cream. Top with another crepe and 3 tablespoons of the whipped cream and spread. For the next layer, add about a tablespoon of the blackberry jam. Repeat the steps by adding a crepe, whipped cream and alternating between the curd and jam, until there is only 1 crepe left. Add that crepe to the top. Then mound the remaining whipped cream in the center.
• Transfer to the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour. Garnish the top with the fresh blackberries and lemon wheels before slicing and serving.

BLACK PEPPER POUND CAKE

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar.
• Beat in pepper and extract.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating very well after each addition.
• Add flour alternately with cream, mix well.
• Pour into a greased and floured 10" fluted tube ban.
• Bake at 325 for 70-75 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan and placing on a wire rack to cool completely.
• Dust with confectioners sugar.