Bittersweet Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting Recipes

CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
• Add powdered sugar, cocoa, salt, milk or whipping cream, and vanilla.
• Mix well.
• Spread over the cake or cupcakes.
• Store in the refrigerator.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Place chopped chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl; nuke for 30 sec in HIGH, stir, nuke again, stir- repeat until chocolate is completely melted; set aside and cool.
• Beat cream cheese and sugar together until light and fluffy.
• Add melted chocolate, milk and vanilla, beat at low speed until smooth.
• If necessary, add additional milk 1 tsp at a time for desired speading consistency.
• Frost cakes, cupcakes or bars; store frosted items covered in refrigerator.

WALNUT-PRALINE CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Process 2/3 cup nuts in food processor or blender until finely ground. Prepare cake batter as directed on package; stir in ground nuts. Pour into 2 (9-inch) round pans sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake 25 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool 10 min. Remove cakes from pans to wire racks; cool completely.
• Meanwhile, cover baking sheet with foil; spray with cooking spray. Bring granulated sugar and water to boil in small saucepan on medium-high heat; simmer on medium-low heat 5 min. or until deep golden brown, stirring occasionally. Stir in remaining nuts; spread onto prepared baking sheet. Cool completely.
• Beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl with mixer until blended. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating well after each addition. Melt chocolate as directed on package; cool slightly.
• Reserve 2 cups frosting. Add 2/3 of the melted chocolate to remaining frosting in bowl; beat until blended. Carefully remove nuts from foil; break into small clusters.
• Cut each cake layer horizontally in half; stack on plate, spreading chocolate frosting between layers. Frost top and side of cake with reserved plain cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle nuts over top of cake. Drizzle with remaining melted chocolate.

SPICED PUMPKIN CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING AND CHOCOLATE LEAVES

Steps:

• Make chocolate leaves:
• Line small baking sheet (or large plate) with foil. Add enough hot water (125°F. to 130°F.) to 9-inch-diameter cake pan to measure depth of 1 inch. Place 6 ounces finely chopped milk chocolate in 3- to 4-cup glass bowl; place bowl in hot water. Let stand just until outer edges of chocolate melt. Stir until chocolate is partially melted (some soft pieces will remain). Transfer bowl to work surface and stir until chocolate is melted and smooth and instant-read thermometer registers no higher than 88°F. (barely lukewarm). If melted chocolate is warmer than 88°F., add 1-inch piece of milk chocolate and stir until temperature falls below 88°F. Remove any remaining piece of chocolate.
• Hold 1 leaf with heavily veined side up. Using pastry brush, carefully coat upper surface completely with chocolate. Using fingertips, wipe away any chocolate overflow from edges of leaf. Place leaf, chocolate side up, on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with 7 more leaves. Refrigerate coated leaves until chocolate is cold and set, about 10 minutes.
• Carefully peel lemon leaves off chocolate leaves; return chocolate leaves to baking sheet and refrigerate.
• Line another small baking sheet (or large plate) with foil. Melt 6 ounces white chocolate and make 8 white chocolate leaves, following technique and temperature guidelines for milk chocolate leaves.
• Line another small baking sheet (or large plate) with foil. Melt 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate and make 8 bittersweet chocolate leaves, following technique for milk chocolate leaves. (Chocolate leaves can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Make cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line bottoms of two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides with waxed paper. Spray sides of pans with nonstick spray. Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, salt and cloves into medium bowl; sift again. Place currants in small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon flour mixture and toss to coat; mix in walnuts.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with milk in 2 additions. Beat in pumpkin. Fold in currant-walnut mixture. Divide batter equally between prepared pans (batter will be about 3/4 inch deep).
• Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto racks; peel off waxed paper. Cool layers completely. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Wrap in foil and store at room temperature.)
• Make frosting:
• Beat butter, brown sugar, molasses, vanilla and orange peel in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in cream cheese. Sift powdered sugar over; beat to blend. (Frosted cake can be prepared up to 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate. Let cake stand at room temperature 2 hours before continuing.)
• Assmble:
• Place 1 cake layer, bottom side up, on platter. Spread with 1 1/2 cups frosting. Top with second cake layer, bottom side down. Spread remaining frosting smoothly over top and sides of cake.
• Arrange chocolate leaves decoratively on top and sides of cake. Serve immediately or let stand up to 2 hours.

CHOCOLATE FROSTING FOR CUPCAKE DECORATING

Steps:

• Sift sugar, cocoa powder, and salt into a large bowl. Beat cream cheese and butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Beat in sugar mixture. Beat in chocolate, then sour cream. Use immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. (Bring to room temperature, and beat on low speed until smooth before using.)

CHOCOLATE FROSTING FOR BEAR CAKE

Steps:

• Beat together cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until smooth. Sift together confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Gradually beat sugar mixture into cream-cheese mixture, and beat until combined. Slowly pour in melted chocolate as you continue to beat. Add sour cream, and beat until smooth. Use immediately. Or refrigerate, covered, up to 3 days; bring to room temperature, and beat with a mixer on low speed until smooth before using.