Mini Chocolate Amaretti Cakes Recipes

CHOCOLATE AMARETTI COOKIES

Steps:

• Adjust oven racks in the upper-third and lower-third positions. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Break the almond paste into small pieces and add it to the bowl of a food processer along with the sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Process until the almond paste is very finely chopped and well incorporated with the salt and sugar. Add the egg whites and vanilla, and process until a smooth dough forms, about 30 seconds. With a small scoop or spoon, dollop the batter onto the baking sheets, 1 tablespoon at a time, spaced 2 inches apart. Top each cookie with a few almond slivers and sprinkle with sanding sugar.
• Bake until the cookies have risen and cracked slightly but are still soft in the center, 13 to 14 minutes; rotate the baking sheets halfway through. Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheets. Store in an airtight container.

MINI CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the cake: Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 6-inch round cake pan with 2-inch sides with oil then line the bottom with parchment paper.
• Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder and baking soda in a medium bowl; set aside. Whisk together the egg, sugar, oil, sour cream, coffee and vanilla in a small bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until just combined.
• Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the cake starts to pull away from the sides, 29 to 32 minutes. If you under bake the cake, it will slightly sink, so check it!
• Remove the cake from the pan by carefully running a paring knife along the edge to loosen, then tilting it into one hand and peeling off the parchment from the bottom; place it on a small cake stand.
• For the ganache: Combine the chocolate, cream and corn syrup if using, in a double boiler or a heat-proof bowl fitted over a small saucepan of simmering water. Stir over medium heat until melted and smooth, about 3 minutes. (Alternatively, you can melt the chocolate and cream in the microwave on low in 25-second intervals, stirring between each.)
• Pour the ganache over the cake, and garnish with the pomegranate arils.

MINI CHOCOLATE CAKE CENTERPIECES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spray 5 (4 by 2-inch) high cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, oil, and chocolate milk. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl to be sure the batter is well incorporated. Fill each pan two-thirds of the way to the top. Bake in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean when done. Remove from the oven. When the pans are cool enough to handle, unmold the cakes and cool completely, right side up on a wire cooling rack.
• In a large bowl, mix together the milk chocolate frosting with cocoa powder.
• To decorate: Using a serrated knife, level the tops of each cake (crumble the extra cake for cake crumbs to decorate). Adhere each cake to a 4-inch cardboard cake board using a dab of frosting. Ice the top and sides of the cake using an offset spatula. Using a different ingredient for each, cover the sides of each cake by holding over a bowl and using hands to gently press the nuts, coconut, etc. into the sides of each cake. Place each onto small silver cake pedestals of varying heights. Top each with 2 or 3 chocolates and truffles.

CHOCOLATE BEET MINI-CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and line an 18-muffin tin with foil cups.
• Whisk the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in one bowl and the remaining ingredients in another. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the egg mixture. Fill each muffin cup half full with the mixture.
• Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a mini-cake comes out clean and the mini-cakes start to pull away from the sides of the tin. Cool before serving.
• Muffins will keep for 2 days in an airtight container at room temperature.

MINI CHOCOLATE LOAF CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the insides of an 8-cup mini loaf baking pan.
• Put the butter, cocoa, coffee and milk in a small microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave until the butter melts, about 3 minutes. Whisk to combine and set aside.
• Whisk the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Whisk the sour cream, vanilla and eggs until blended in a small bowl. Whisk the hot cocoa mixture into the flour mixture and then stir in the sour cream mixture until just combined. Divide the batter equally among the loaf cups.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool the loaves in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes and then remove from the pan and cool completely on a rack. Dust the tops of the loaves with confectioners? sugar.

CHOCOLATE AMARETTI CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spray a 9-inch springform pan the nonstick spray. Refrigerate. Microwave the chocolate until melted and smooth, stirring every 20 seconds, for about 1 minute.
• Combine the almonds and cookies in processor. Pulse until the almonds and cookies are finely ground. Transfer the nut mixture to a medium bowl. Add the butter and sugar to the processor and blend until creamy and smooth. Add the grated orange peel and pulse briefly, until incorporated. Add the eggs 1 at a time. Blend until the eggs are incorporated. Clean the sides of the mixing bowl and blend again. Add the nut mixture and melted chocolate. Pulse until blended. Clean the sides of the bowl. Blend again.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the center puffs and a tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan for 15 minutes.
• Transfer the cake to a platter. Sift the cocoa powder over and serve.

CHOCOLATE AMARETTI CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spray a 9-inch springform pan the nonstick spray.
• Refrigerate.
• Microwave the chocolate until melted and smooth, stirring every 20 seconds, for about 1 minute.
• Combine the almonds and cookies in processor.
• Pulse until the almonds and cookies are finely ground.
• Transfer the nut mixture to a medium bowl.
• Add the butter and sugar to the processor and blend until creamy and smooth.
• Add the grated orange peel and pulse briefly, until incorporated.
• Add the eggs 1 at a time.
• Blend until the eggs are incorporated.
• Clean the sides of the mixing bowl and blend again.
• Add the nut mixture and melted chocolate.
• Pulse until blended.
• Clean the sides of the bowl.
• Blend again.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake until the center puffs and a tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
• Cool the cake in the pan for 15 minutes.
• Transfer the cake to a platter.
• Sift the cocoa powder over and serve.

CHOCOLATE AMARETTI CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch spring-form pan with nonstick spray and refrigerate.
• In a small bowl, microwave the chocolate chips, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes.
• In a food processor, combine the almonds and cookies, and pulse until finely ground. Transfer to a bowl. Add the butter, sugar, and orange zest to the processor and blend until creamy and smooth. With the machine running, add the eggs one at a time. Add the nut mixture and the melted chocolate. Pulse until blended.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the center puffs and a tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan for 15 minutes. Transfer to a platter, sift the cocoa powder over, and serve.