Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas Cake Recipes

HO HO CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake as directed on the package for a 9 x 13 inch pan. Cool completely.
• Combine flour and milk in saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly, until thick. Cool completely. Cream 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup margarine, and shortening. Add cooled milk mixture, and beat well. Spread over cake. Refrigerate.
• In a small bowl, beat egg. Stir in vanilla, melted chocolate, hot water, confectioner's sugar, and 1/2 cup margarine. Pour over second layer. Refrigerate.

HO, HO, HO, MERRY CHRISTMAS CAKE

Steps:

• Melt the apricot jam, then sieve and brush a little all over the fruitcake (see Apricot & almond fruitcake recipe to the right) or any 23cm cake. On a clean surface lightly dusted with a little sifted icing sugar, roll out the marzipan into a circle large enough to cover the cake - use a piece of kitchen string to help you check. Lift up the marzipan by hanging it over your rolling pin, then drape over the cake. Gently pat and smooth the marzipan down the sides of the cake, then trim any excess from the bottom.
• Repeat everything again with 900g of the ready-to-roll regal icing, firstly brushing the marzipan with more apricot jam. Trim the base as neatly as you can, then hide any rough bits by tying a pretty ribbon round the base. Dye the remaining 100g regal icing with a little red food colouring, then thinly roll out and stamp or cut out a few 'H' shapes. Dribble a little water into 50g sifted icing sugar to make a paste. Dot a little on the backs of the 'H' shapes and some round sweets, and stick around the top of the cake to make evenly spaced Ho, Ho, Hos.

HO HO CAKE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Preheat oven to 375 F. Line a 15.5 x 10.5 x 1-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper . Generously grease the paper with unsalted butter. Either using a standing mixer or mixing by hand, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar, continuously beating until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
• In a separate medium bowl, beat the 4 egg yolks and vanilla on medium speed for 3 minutes. Gradually add the remaining 1/3 cup granulated sugar and continue to beat for 2 additional minutes.
• In a third small bowl, stir together the flour and 1/3 cup of the cocoa powder. Add the baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• Beating on low speed, add the cocoa mixture to the egg yolk mixture alternating with tablespoons of the water, just until the batter is smooth.
• Gradually fold the cocoa mixture into the beaten egg whites until well blended. Don't overmix or you risk deflating the egg whites.
• Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the top springs back when touched lightly in the center.
• While the sponge bakes, coat a linen or thin cotton tea towel with the remaining 1/3 cup of cocoa powder-it should at least cover the size and shape of the jelly roll pan.
• Once the cake is baked, immediately loosen it from the edges of the pan. Invert the cake onto the prepared towel. Carefully peel off the parchment paper. Roll the cake and towel together, starting from the narrow end. Place on a wire rack to cool completely-the trick is to coax the cake into a rolled shape while it is still warm to keep it from cracking.
• Using a standing mixer or by hand, whip the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract on medium-high speed until medium to stiff peaks form, or about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Carefully unroll the cooled cake. Spread the prepared whipped cream filling evenly over the top of the sponge, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the cake. Gently roll the cake back up, this time without the towel. Place on a wire rack set on a baking sheet and refrigerate while preparing the ganache.
• Place chocolate chips, heavy cream, and light corn syrup in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring each time until the chips are melted and the ganache is smooth.
• Pour the ganache all over the cake roll. Spoon up any dripped ganache and pour it over the cake again. Refrigerate for at least 30 to 60 minutes before slicing and serving.
• Enjoy.