German Chocolate Cake Trisha Yearwood Recipes

GARTH BROOK'S GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH COCONUT FROSTING

Steps:

• Prepare the chocolate by melting it in the top of a double boiler, stirring until it is smooth. add 1/4 cup of the butter and stir until it is melted and blended. Add 1/4 cup of warm milk and stir until smooth. Set the chocolate aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 350*F.
• Line the bottoms only of 3 9" cake pans with circles of parchment paper, or grease each pan bottom only with solid shortening and dust lightly with flour. Sift together the sifted and measured flour, baking soda, and salt.
• Whip the egg whites until stiff using the wire beater of the mixer. Transfer the beaten whites to a separate bowl and set aside.
• In the mixer bowl, cream the remaining 1 1/2 sticks of butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add the egg yoks one at a time, beating well after each addition(Trisha says separated egg yolks will slide easily and individually from a small bowl if the bowl is rinsed with water first). Add the melted, cooled chocolate and the vanilla. Mix well.
• With the mixer on very low, stir in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Do this by adding about a third of the flour and slowly stirring it in completely. Then add about half the buttermilk and stir it inches Continue adding flour and buttermilk in this manner, ending with flour. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and stir again. With a long handled spoon or spatula, fold and stir the beaten egg whites into the batter until the batter is smooth with no visible clumps of whites.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 30-40 minutes. Bake on the middle rack of the oven, allowing at least 1/4" clearance between the pans and the oven walls. The cake will rise above the pan edges as it bakes but will not spill over and will settle back down as it continues to bake. The cake is done when it begins to pull away from the sides of the pans and springs back to a light touch. Cool layers in the pans for about 8 minutes.
• Run a knife around the edges of each pan and turn the layers out onto wire racks that have been sprayed with cooking spray. Cool layers completely before frosting.
• To make the frosting:.
• Combine the sugar, egg yolks, and evaporated milk in the top of a double boiler. Stir with a wire whisk until the yolks are fully incorporated. Add the butter. Place over simmering water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 12-15 minutes longer, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. Add the vanilla, coconut, and nuts. cool.
• To assemble the cake, place one layer on a cake stand and spread with frosting. Frost each layer completely, top and sides, as it is added to the cake.
• Note:.
• You can also make the frosting in a regular saucepan, but be sure to stir it constantly, as it scorches easily. Also, you MUST use the finely grated fresh or frozen coconut, not canned or shredded, to be able to spread the frosting on the sides of the cake easlily.
• Another note from Trisha's sister, Gwen:.
• Refrigerate the cake after it's frosted. Before serving, touch up any frosting that may have run down the sides.
• Hint: Trisha says if you use a lot of sweet baking chocolate, you can purchase it in bulk online at www.cocoasupply.com. Choose La Equatoriale-Dark Chocolate Coverture. The cost, including postage, is half what you would probaly pay in grocery stores. Share the large bar with your friends who bake. I haven't checked this out, but you might want to.

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH BUTTERSCOTCH FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Prepare the chocolate by melting it in the top of a double boiler, stirring until it is smooth. Add 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) of the butter and stir until it is melted and blended. Add the warm milk and stir until smooth. Set the chocolate aside to cool.
• Line the bottoms only of three 9-inch cake pans with circles of parchment paper, or grease each pan bottom only with solid shortening and dust lightly with flour. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.
• Whip the egg whites until stiff using the wire beater of the mixer. Transfer the beaten whites to a separate bowl and set aside.
• In the mixer bowl, cream the remaining 1 1/2 sticks of butter and the sugar together until fluffy. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the melted, cooled chocolate and the vanilla. Mix well.
• With the mixer on very low, stir in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Do this by adding about a third of the flour and slowly stirring it in completely. Then add about half the buttermilk and stir it in. Continue adding flour and buttermilk in this manner, ending with the flour. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and stir again. With a long-handled spoon or spatula, fold and stir the beaten egg whites into the batter until the batter is smooth with no visible clumps of whites.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Bake on the middle rack of the oven, allowing at least 1/4-inch clearance between the pans and the oven walls. The cake will rise above the pan edges as it bakes but will not spill over and will settle back down as it continues to bake. The cake is done when it begins to pull away from the sides of the pans and springs back to a light touch. Cool the layers in the pans for about 8 minutes.
• Run a knife around the edges of each pan and turn the layers out onto wire racks that have been sprayed with cooking spray. Cool the layers completely before frosting.
• For the frosting: Place the butterscotch morsels in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water or in the top of a double boiler. Stir until melted, then remove from the heat.
• In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese until smooth. Add the butter and confectioner's sugar, and continue mixing. Add the melted butterscotch morsels and the heavy cream and vanilla, and mix until fully combined.
• To assemble the cake: Place one layer on a cake stand and spread with frosting. Frost each layer completely, top and sides, as it is added to the cake.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY ICEBOX CAKE

Steps:

• Pour 3 cups whipping cream in the bowl of a stand mixer, then add 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar. Whip on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Scrape the whipped cream out of the bowl and set aside for cake assembly.
• Pour the remaining 3 cups whipping cream into the stand mixer bowl, then add the cocoa powder, vanilla extract and remaining 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar. Whip on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Set this chocolate whipped cream aside for cake assembly.
• Assemble the cake on a round serving platter or cake stand. Place 2 tablespoons of the plain whipped cream in the center of the platter. Spread it into a very thin layer, forming a 10-inch round to secure the first layer of wafers. Place 9 wafers, side by side, around the inner edge of whipped cream. Fill the center of the wafer circle with 3 more wafers (break 1 of the 3 wafers in half to fill the center neatly like a puzzle).
• Spread a third of the chocolate whipped cream (about 1 cup) in an even layer on top of the wafers using a small offset spatula. Be sure to push the whipped cream almost to the edge of the wafers, leaving just a bit of the wafers exposed. Repeating the same pattern, make another wafer layer with 12 wafers. Next, place a third of the whipped cream (about 1 cup) on top of the wafers in an even layer. Top the whipped cream with another layer of wafers. Repeat this process to create 4 more layers, alternating between the plain whipped cream and chocolate whipped cream, each separated by a layer of 12 wafers. Place the cake into the refrigerator to set up 8 hours or up to overnight.
• For the cherry sauce: Meanwhile, combine the frozen cherries, granulated sugar, honey, salt, lemon juice and 1/2 cup tart cherry juice in a medium saucepot. Cook over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves and the cherries soften, about 8 minutes. Whisk the cornstarch with the remaining 1 to 2 tablespoons of tart cherry juice in a small mixing bowl to create a slurry. Drizzle the slurry into the cherry mixture, stirring constantly, then cook at a low simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce develops a smooth velvety texture, 2 to 3 minutes. Put the sauce in the refrigerator to cool until the icebox cake is ready to serve.
• Remove the cake from the refrigerator. Top with the cold cherry sauce and serve immediately.

RED WINE CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH VANILLA BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch cake pan.
• Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Combine the butter and brown sugar together in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the red wine, beginning and ending with the flour, mixing until just incorporated.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Bake until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool completely on a rack.
• For the buttercream: Place the butter in a large bowl and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar in 3 batches, beating until each batch is incorporated. After adding the last batch, continue to beat until very smooth and lightened, about 3 minutes. Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon of the half-and-half and beat until incorporated. Add more half-and-half as needed to make the icing a smooth, spreadable consistency. Keep at room temperature until ready to use.
• Spoon the buttercream onto the cake and smooth with an offset spatula. Cut the cake into squares and serve.

CHOCOLATE ORANGE CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together the softened butter and 1 tablespoon of the cocoa to make a thick paste. Use this paste to paint the inside of the Bundt pan. Set aside.
• In an electric mixer, combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and remaining 1/2 cup cocoa and mix until blended. Add the orange juice, mayonnaise, vinegar and vanilla and mix until just combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Fold in the orange zest. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean, 45 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, and then turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
• For the chocolate glaze: Mix the confectioners' sugar and cocoa together. Whisk in the orange juice, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches a good consistency to drizzle. Drizzle the glaze over the cake.

CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH DIVINITY ICING

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup water, 1/2 cup of the sugar, the chocolate and the vanilla. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until melted. Set aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Prepare three 9-inch round cake pans: spray the bottom and sides of each pan with cooking spray; line the pans with parchment paper; then spray again with cooking spray.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. In a stand mixer, cream the butter and the remaining 1 3/4 cups sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add the cooled chocolate mixture and beat until smooth. Add the sifted flour mixture alternately with the milk, starting with a third of the flour, then adding half the milk, and ending with the flour. Stir only enough after each addition to blend the ingredients. Pour the batter evenly into the cake pans and bake for 35 minutes, or until done. Judge doneness by appearancelayers will begin to pull away from the sidesor by inserting a toothpick into the center of a layer. The toothpick should come out clean. Cool the cakes in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto racks. Remove the paper and allow to cool completely before frosting. Spread the Divinity Icing between the layers and all over the top and sides of the cake.
• Pour the egg whites and salt into a stand mixer fitted with a whip attachment. Beat the egg whites until smooth but not stiff; they should not form stiff peaks.
• In a large saucepan, mix the sugar, 3/4 cup water, corn syrup and vinegar. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then heat the mixture until it reaches the hard ball stage (265 degrees F on a candy thermometer), about 12 minutes. When done, the syrup will spin a long thread when poured off the edge of a spoon. Remove the syrup from the heat and stir in the mini marshmallows. The mixture will be foamy. With the mixer running at high speed, stream the syrup into the egg whites. Beat well, and then beat in the vanilla.