Sunday, February 10, 2013

Devil's Food Cake for Rosario


Last week was Rosario's birthday, and of course I had to bake her a cake.  The very sad part was that Rosario took the last working day before here birthday off work, so she was not there to enjoy her own cake.  But what can you do - the cake had a sponge-like texture and would have been no good by the next Monday.

For Rosario, I chose to bake Devil's Food Cake from p133 of Vintage Cakes by Jane Brocket.  It  is a beautiful book that I found through a recent visit to a bookstore, and I highly recommend it.

The cake consists of two layers of light chocolate sponge, coated in devilish fudgy chocolate icing.  I chose to decorate my cake with Ferrero Rocher:


The frosting is made before the cake so that it can thicken up sufficiently before being layered onto the cake.  To make the frosting, you will need:

1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons brown sugar
120g butter
315g chopped dark chocolate

Place the milk, butter and sugar into a saucepan and  stir over a gently heat until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved.  Take the pan off the heat and add the chocolate, swirling the pan until the chocolate melts, then whisk it until smooth.  Allow the frosting to cool for about an hour before using it.

To make the cake, you will need:

120g butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 2/3 cups plain flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup cooled black coffee mixed with 1/2 cup milk

Grease and line 2 x  8" cake tins, and preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius..

In a large stand mixer, beat together the sugar and butter until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs, beating in one at a time.

Sift the dry ingredients together into a bowl.  Fold in half the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, followed by half the coffee-milk mixture.  Repeat with the remaining dry ingredients and liquid ingredients.

Divide the cake batter equally between the two cake tins, and bake for 25 minutes or until cooked through when tested.  Allow the cakes to cool in the tins for five minutes before unmoulding onto a wore rack to cool completely.

To frost the cake, place one layer upside down (so that the flat bottom is upwards) onto a cake plate, and spread one third of the frosting over that layer.  Place the other cake layer on top of it, flat side down, then spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cakes.  Decorate as desired, then serve and enjoy:




Series three of Downton Abbey started here tonight - I was so excited.  It was great to finally see Matthew and Lady Mary walk down the aisle.  I wasn't so sure about Lady Mary's dress though - I thought it was a little too dowdy.

Hope you had a great weekend.


9 comments:

Jennifer said...

What a wonderful gesture-and Rosario is going to be sad that she missed out on it! This cake looks heavenly-and the addition of Ferrero Rocher takes it over the top!

I loved Mary's headpiece, but not her dress. I loved when she asked Carson, "will I do?" The look on his face was priceless. I was also relieved at Mrs. Hughes's great news. We are on Episode 6 tonight.

The Caked Crusader said...

As birthday cakes go, that one looks just about perfect!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful friend you are, but I've said that tons of times whenever I see the cakes you make! This one's a winner!

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

That looks really nice and fudgey! And I don't think I've ever made icing with brown sugar before-I must give it a go :)

Kari said...

We only just finished series 2 of Downton - we are so terribly behind in everything we watch (we record everything on a PVR and watch it back ad free)! I think we'll wait a bit before going on to series 3 but I am really looking forward to it.

This cake is stunning and I am so sad on Rosario's behalf that she missed it!

Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself said...

This looks wonderfully indulgent :D

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru

Unknown said...

Yum, chocolate cake- how nice you are to bake your friend a cake- wish I could try a slice;-)
I have to start watching the Dowtown Abbey series, I hear how good it is all the time!

Blond Duck said...

I've heard great things about downtown Abbey!

Unknown said...

This looks delicious! Great recipe!

I just discovered your blog and browsed through some of your recipes, they all look scrumptious!

I really enjoy reading your posts :) you have a new follower!

Michela from Italy