Thursday, January 8, 2009

Chocolate cake and Barber Poles

I know, you're asking yourself what does chocolate cake and barber poles have in common?
Well, it's my husband's 30th birthday on Monday and we're having a get together on Saturday to celebrate. Nothing too big but we're going out for dinner with a group of our friends and our family and then our family and close friends are coming over to our place for cake and some Wii!
So... that means I have to bake a cake. I could go and buy him an ice cream cake like he's been getting since he was a little boy but after my explosive blow up at the Dairy Queen manager for his 29th birthday (which in the end, ended up with us eating day old grocery store cake btw) I thought I'd avoid that altogether. Plus there's something special about homemade birthday cakes.
I was scouring the internet for a chocolate cake with some sort of filling when I came across an easy and yummy sounding recipe for Chocolate Mousse Cake on cooks.com. I've boughten all my ingredients last night and will attempt to bake it either today or tomorrow.
Sounds simple and easy and maybe even a little boring doesn't it? Well, here's the added bit... since my husband is a barber, I want to make a shaped cake of perhaps a barber pole! It would be easy, I figure I just make a sheet cake and cut it into the shape of a barber pole then assemble it. Instead of the milk chocolate icing given in the recipe I bought some white chocolate and some food colouring so I can do the barber pole stripes in red and white! I'm excited to get started and hope it turns out the way I'm envisioning it in my head!
Here's the recipe for those interested (I'll give my review of it on Sunday!)

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CAKE

FUDGE CAKE:
4 squares unsweetened chocolate2/3 c. boiling water2 2/3 c. sifted cake flour1 1/4 tsp. baking soda1 1/2 tsp. baking powder1/4 tsp. salt1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract2/3 c. butter2 2/3 c. brown sugar3 lg. egg yolks1 lg. egg2/3 c. thick buttermilk or sour milk
FILLING:
3/4 c. butter3/4 c. confectioners' sugar, divided4 eggs, separated12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate, melted1 tsp. vanillaPinch of salt1/4 c. strong coffee2 c. heavy cream
ICING:
8 oz. semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled1/2 c. water1/2 c. confectioners' sugar1 or 2 tbsp. strong coffee1/2 c. butter, softened
FUDGE CAKE: Melt the chocolate in the boiling water. Sift the flour with the baking soda, baking powder, and salt and set aside. Cream the butter, gradually adding the sugar and creaming until thick and light. Add the egg yolks and the whole egg to the creamed mixture, one at a time, and beat in. Now beat in the melted chocolate.
Combine the buttermilk or sour milk and vanilla. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with the buttermilk or sour milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Beat until smooth but do not over beat. Turn batter into two 8-inch square pans that have been buttered and floured. Tap pans on counter to release excess air.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until cake tests done. Cool in pans for 5 minutes before turning out onto rack.
FILLING: Soften butter and beat until creamy. Add 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, egg yolks, chocolate, vanilla, salt and coffee. Beat egg whites with remaining 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar until soft peaks form. Whip cream. Add beaten egg whites and whipped cream to chocolate mixture. Spread filling on top of one layer. Set other layer on top and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
ICING: Beat above ingredients together until smooth. Ice cake completely. Decorate as desired. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Serves 16

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