Strawberry Brandy Chocolate Cake Recipes

CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter 3 (9-inch) round cake pans or spray with baking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Into a medium bowl, sift the cocoa powder. Whisk in the hot water until the cocoa is dissolved. Let cool for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. To the cooled cocoa mixture, add the oil, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla and whisk until well combined. Pour the cocoa mixture into the flour mixture and whisk until fully incorporated. Divide the batter among the cake pans.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until the cakes are springy to the touch and just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan. (If you have to bake the cakes on separate oven racks, carefully rotate them after 20 minutes of baking.) Let cool completely in the pans. Run a knife around the edge of the cakes to loosen them and invert onto a wire rack. Remove and discard the parchment paper.
• In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the butter and a pinch of salt on medium speed until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Reduce the speed to low. With the mixer running, gradually add in the sugar, ½ a cup at a time, alternating with a tablespoon of the strawberries. Stop and scrape down the bowl a few times during mixing. Once the sugar is incorporated, beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
• Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Top with ¾ cup of frosting and spread into an even layer. Top with another cake layer and another ¾ cup of frosting. Add the final layer and spread the remaining frosting all over the outside of the cake. Chill for at least 1 hour or up to 1 day.
• Place the chopped chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl.
• In a small saucepan, heat the cream over medium-high heat just until simmering. Immediately pour over the chocolate and let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk together until the chocolate is fully melted and combined.
• Spread over the top of the cake, letting some drip down the sides. Top with fresh berries. Chill and let the ganache set for at least 30 minutes before serving. Store the cake refrigerated for up to 5 days.

STRAWBERRY BRANDY CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter 8 eight oz. ramekins and coat with cocoa powder.
• Place ramekins on cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.
• In glass bowl, defrost strawberries in microwave.
• Strain into another bowl and gently press out juice through fine strainer - keep pulp.
• Microwave liquid for 8 to 10 minutes until reduced to approximately ¼ cup.
• Place liquid and pulp into food processor and blend mixture.
• Resulting content should be approximately 1 ¼ cup of puree.
• In a large bowl combine sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda.
• Incorporate eggs, milk, oil, vanilla, ½ cup brandy, and 1 cup strawberry puree.
• Fill ramekins ¾ full. The cakes will overflow while baking.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes.
• While ramekins are baking, prepare whipped cream and ganache.
• For the whipped cream, mix remaining puree with 2T sugar.
• In a separate bowl, whip 1 cup cream until it forms soft mounds.
• Add the sweetened puree to cream and whip until stiff peaks can be formed.
• Refrigerate strawberry whipped cream.
• For the ganache, begin by heating ½ cup plus 2 T cream on stove until steam begins to rise.
• Meanwhile, place 1 cup chocolate chips in bowl and microwave 1 minute.
• Remove and stir until all chips are almost completely melted.
• Pour cream over melted chocolate chips and stir until smooth.
• Add 1 T brandy and mix until incorporated.
• To assemble, place each ramekin on a plate, spoon ganache over the tap so that it spills over the side.
• Top with a mound of strawberry whipped cream.
• Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE-STRAWBERRY CELEBRATION CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Combine the first seven ingredients; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Transfer to two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans., Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 28-32 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a large bowl, cream butter, confectioner's sugar and cocoa until light and fluffy. Beat in milk until smooth. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake., For ganache, place chocolate in a small bowl. Heat cream just to a boil; pour over chocolate and whisk until smooth. Drizzle over top of cake, allowing ganache to drape down the sides. Arrange strawberries on top of cake. If desired, brush jam onto strawberries.