Dark Chocolate Macaron Cake Recipes

TIERED MACARON CAKE

Steps:

• For the macaron cake layers: Fit a large pastry bag with a large open pastry tip. Line 3 sheet pans with parchment. Using a 9-inch cake pan and a Sharpie, trace around the cake pan to create a 9-inch circle on each piece of parchment. Using a 6-inch cake pan and a Sharpie, trace around the cake pan to create a 6-inch circle next to the 9-inch circle on each piece of parchment; flip the parchment pieces over so the ink is facing down but you can still see the outline of the circles. Set aside.
• Sift together the almond flour and confectioners' sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the food coloring and 2 tablespoons of the egg whites but do not stir. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the salt and remaining egg whites and give it a quick stir. Set aside.
• In a saucepan, add the lemon juice and 1/3 cup water, then the granulated sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring gently and brushing down any sugar granules that are clinging to the side of the pan with a damp pastry brush, until the sugar has completely melted. Continue to heat, without stirring or agitating the mixture, until the syrup reaches 235 degrees F. Then, start the mixer with the egg whites on high. Continue to heat the syrup, without stirring, until it reaches a final temperature of 245 degrees F. At this point, make sure the egg whites are nice and foamy, then carefully pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl, being careful not to pour it on the moving whisk (DANGER!). Whisk on high until the whites are bright white and shiny but not yet holding a stiff peak.
• Add the meringue to the bowl with the confectioners' sugar and almond flour and fold together until the batter is smooth, the consistency of ketchup and shiny.
• Transfer the meringue batter to the prepared pastry bag. On one of the 9-inch circles, pipe the batter in a spiral just large enough to fill the circle by starting in the very center and piping tight circles to the edge of the outline. Pipe the batter in the 6-inch circle in the same manner. Repeat with the remaining circles on each sheet pan. If you have additional batter, pipe quarter-size dollops or hearts on the empty spaces on the sheet pans. Gently tap the sheet pans on a work surface a few times to release any air bubbles and allow to sit at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes to form a "skin."
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
• Bake the macaron shells, opening the oven door during baking very quickly once or twice if it's very humid to allow moisture to escape, 20 to 25 minutes. Allow the shells to cool completely before filling.
• For the German buttercream: Combine the egg yolks, granulated sugar, cornstarch and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk until smooth.
• In a large saucepan, bring the heavy cream and milk to a simmer.
• With the mixer running on medium speed, slowly add the hot cream/milk mixture to the bowl by pouring it down the side and into the egg yolk mixture, mixing to completely combine. Transfer the mixture back into the saucepan and heat, whisking CONSTANTLY over medium-low heat, until the mixture thickens to the consistency of mayonnaise and starts to bubble, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the hot pastry cream to the CLEAN bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a CLEAN whisk attachment and mix until the mixture has cooled to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add the butter a few tablespoons at a time, whisking between each addition. Continue adding and whisking until the mixture thickens and has transformed into a spreadable filling. You may not need the entire pound of butter.
• Remove a third of the filling to a small bowl and stir in the lemon extract. In the remaining buttercream in the mixing bowl, add the blackberry jam and mix until smooth and combined. Transfer the fillings to separate large pastry bags fitted with large open star tips.
• On the flat side of one of the large macaron rounds, arrange blackberries around the perimeter, leaving about 1/2 inch of space between each. Evenly space more blackberries in the center. Pipe the blackberry buttercream around the blackberries. Top with a second large macaron round and repeat with the remaining blackberries and buttercream. Top with the third large macaron round. Repeat with the smaller macaron rounds, using the raspberries and lemon buttercream.
• Stack the smaller round on top of the larger one, or use a tiered cake stand to separate the two layers.

DARK CHOCOLATE MACARON CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a straight-sided baking sheet with parchment.
• In a food processor, combine the almond meal, powdered sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Process for 30 seconds to make a very fine mixture. Set aside.
• Using a hand-held mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on medium speed until beginning to stiffen, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add the cream of tartar, and continue beating, slowly adding in the sugar. Beat on medium speed until glossy and stiff peaks form, an additional 1 1/2 minutes--be careful not overwhip. In 3 additions, fold the dry ingredients into the egg white mixture, just until combined and no streaks remain.
• Divide the batter evenly into 2 rounds on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until dry on top and slightly puffed, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely on the baking sheet.
• For the ganache: Meanwhile, heat the heavy cream, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat until small bubbles form around the edges. Place the chopped chocolate in a medium bowl and pour the cream over the chocolate. Let sit for 3 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the chocolate and refrigerate until firm but spreadable, about 1 hour.
• Spread the ganache on the flat side of each cake layer. Line raspberries in circles on top of the ganache. Top with the remaining cake. Wrap with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for about 2 hours. Slice and serve with a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream.

DARK CHOCOLATE MOCHA MOUSSE CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Butter a metal 8-inch square cake pan. Line the bottom and sides of the pan with parchment paper; lightly butter the parchment. Combine the cocoa and espresso powders in a medium bowl. Heat the milk and butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until the milk is steaming and the butter melts. Whisk into the cocoa mixture; let cool to room temperature.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until very pale, thick and pillowy, 5 to 8 minutes. Beat 30 to 45 more seconds to stabilize the egg foam.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the cocoa mixture in 2 additions, alternating with the flour mixture in 2 additions. Beat just until the batter is smooth and no dry flour remains.
• Pour the batter into the cake pan and gently tap against the counter to eliminate any air bubbles. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out the cake onto a rack. Peel off the parchment but let it rest gently on top of the cake while it cools completely. Wipe the cake pan clean and reserve.
• Make the ganache: Combine 1/2 cup heavy cream, 4 ounces chocolate and 1 tablespoon butter in a small saucepan. Gently cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until melted and smooth. Let cool.
• Make the mousse: Combine the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and 4 ounces chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until melted and smooth. Whisk in the cocoa powder until smooth. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, combine 1/4 cup heavy cream and the gelatin powder in a small microwave- safe bowl. Let stand until the gelatin absorbs the liquid, about 5 minutes, then microwave until melted, 20 to 30 seconds, whisking. Let cool, stirring occasionally.
• Combine the remaining 1 1/4 cups heavy cream, the sugar and espresso powder in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer on medium speed to dissolve the sugar, about 1 minute. Stream in the cooled gelatin mixture, then increase the speed to medium high and beat until the mixture is thick and stiff peaks form. Fold in the cooled chocolate mixture in 2 or 3 batches until the mousse is well blended.
• Assemble the cake: Line the reserved cake pan with 2 crisscrossed strips of parchment paper (this will help you lift out the finished cake). Carefully slice the cake horizontally into 3 equal layers. Lay the best layer cut-side up in the bottom of the pan and brush with some of the chocolate liqueur, if using. (Use a plate or small cutting board to move the layers; if your top cake layer is domed, use it for the middle of the cake.) Evenly spread half of the mousse on top with an offset spatula, all the way to the edges. Top with a second cake layer. Brush again with chocolate liqueur, then spread half of the ganache evenly on top. Add the final cake layer, cut-side up, and brush with the remaining liqueur. Top with the remaining mousse and ganache. (The assembled cake should fill the pan.)
• Refrigerate the cake until the top is set, about 30 minutes, then wrap the whole cake pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to set completely.
• Lift the cake out of the pan using the parchment pieces and transfer to a cutting board. Using a hot, dry serrated knife, slice the cake, wiping the knife in between cuts for clean edges.