Chocolate Date Cake With Coconut Cognac Sauce Recipes

CHOCOLATE COCONUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two 9-inch cake pans with nonstick spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Sprinkle half of the shredded coconut on a baking sheet. Toast in the oven until golden brown, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet.
• Combine the instant espresso and water in a measuring cup; stir until dissolved. Add to a medium bowl, along with the cake mix, vegetable oil and eggs. Beat for 2 minutes with a handheld mixer on medium speed. Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans and smooth the tops.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto a baking rack and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, combine the cream cheese, butter, coconut milk, salt and powdered sugar in a large bowl. Beat with a handheld mixer on medium speed until light, fluffy and smooth, about 4 minutes. Stir in the remaining (untoasted) coconut with a rubber spatula.
• If the cakes have domed in the center, trim to level the tops. Place one cake layer, up-side down, on a platter or plate. Spoon one-third of the frosting on top and spread evenly, almost completely to the edge. Place the other layer, up-side down, on top, pressing gently to anchor. Using an offset spatula, evenly frost the entire cake; if the frosting gets too soft, place it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Gently press the toasted coconut around the outside of the cake and sprinkle it over the top.
• Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

FLOURLESS WALNUT-DATE CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat the bottom and sides of a 9-inch-round cake pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper. Put the walnuts, cinnamon and 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor; pulse until finely ground but not powdery. Whisk the egg yolks, orange zest and vanilla, if using, in a small bowl.
• Beat the egg whites and salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until foamy. Beat in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until soft peaks form, about 8 minutes. Fold in the yolk mixture and dates, then fold in the ground walnut mixture. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the cake is golden and a toothpick comes out clean, 23 to 25 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a rack, then run a knife along the sides and invert the cake onto a platter.
• Make the glaze: Put the chocolate, margarine and honey in a microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap and microwave until the margarine melts, about 2 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Cool slightly, then pour over the cake. Top with walnuts.

CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH COCONUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut cake in half. Return half to the freezer. Let remaining cake stand at room temperature to thaw. , Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the coconut, milk and vanilla. Cook and stir over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. , Cut cake into four slices; place on dessert plates. Spread with preserves. Top with coconut mixture and ice cream.

CHOCOLATE DATE CAKE I

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine dates with boiling water. Set aside to cool.
• Pre heat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch pan.
• In a medium bowl, mix flour, soda, salt and cocoa. Set aside.
• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs. Add flour mixture alternating with cooled date mixture. Fold in chopped nuts and 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips to mixture.
• Spread batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of chocolate chips over top.
• Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into middle of cake comes out clean.

COCONUT-DATE BITES

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse the dates to create a thick paste. Add the walnuts, vanilla and 1/4 cup of the coconut and pulse until incorporated and a thick paste forms again. Using a spatula, transfer the date mixture to a medium bowl.
• Pour the remaining 1/4 cup coconut into a separate small, shallow bowl.
• Using a spoon, scoop out about 2 tablespoons of the date mixture and, with clean hands, work into a small rectangular bar 2 to 2 1/2 inches by 1 inch (or roll into balls). Coat the date bar with the coconut in the bowl, delicately pressing the coconut onto the bar. Continue with the remaining date mixture and coconut.
• Serve in mini paper cupcake liners. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

CHURROS WITH COCONUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Cook the condensed milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it turns a light caramel color and starts to pull away from the sides of the pan, 10 to 15 minutes. Gradually add the coconut milk and whisk until smooth, about 5 minutes; set aside. (You can refrigerate the sauce, covered, up to 2 days; reheat before serving.)
• Make the churros: Bring the milk, butter, sugar, vanilla and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring, until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat to medium low; add the flour and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture gathers into a glossy ball, about 1 minute. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time with a mixer. Transfer the batter to a piping bag fitted with a 1/2-inch star tip.
• Fill a shallow dish with sugar for coating the churros (about 1/2 cup). Heat about 2 inches vegetable oil in a wide saucepan until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees F. Working in batches of about 6, pipe 3-inch-long segments of batter into the hot oil; use a knife to cut off the segments. Fry, turning once, until golden brown, about 3 minutes per batch. (Return the oil to 350degrees F between batches.) Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain briefly, then roll in the sugar. Serve with the coconut sauce.

CHOCOLATE-DATE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE STICKY TOFFEE GLAZE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-3-inch round cake pan. Line with parchment, and butter parchment.
• Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Meanwhile, combine dates, brandy, coffee, and 2 tablespoons cocoa in a heatproof bowl. Stir in boiling water. Let cool, stirring occasionally. Puree cooled date mixture in a food processor (you should have about 2 1/2 cups). Place 3/4 cup puree in a small bowl, and press plastic wrap directly on surface; reserve. Place remaining puree in a large bowl.
• Whisk flour, salt, cinnamon, and remaining 2 tablespoons cocoa in a bowl.
• Beat butter and dark-brown sugar with a mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition (batter will look curdled).
• Stir baking soda into reserved uncovered date puree. On low speed, beat flour mixture into egg mixture in 2 additions, alternating with the date mixture. Beat in chocolate. Transfer batter to prepared pan, and smooth top.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Run a knife around edge of pan to loosen, and invert cake onto rack. Remove parchment, turn cake right side up, and let cool completely.
• Make the glaze: Bring butter, light-brown sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt to a boil in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Boil 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in cream. Add chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Whisk in brandy. Let cool until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Assemble the cake: Using a serrated knife, trim rounded top of cake so it is flat. Place cake on stand. Spread remaining 3/4 cup date puree over top of cake. Pour glaze over top, letting some drip down sides. Garnish with halved dates.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT CAKE FROM KING ARTHUR FLOUR®

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan or an 8-inch square cake pan.
• Sift together the coconut flour and baking powder, mixing to combine; set aside.
• In a large, microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter with the cocoa, stirring until well blended.
• Whisk the sugar, salt, vanilla, and eggs into the butter-cocoa mixture. Add the coconut flour and baking powder, whisking until smooth.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Let it rest for 10 minutes.
• Bake the loaf or cake until set, and a cake tester inserted into the middle comes out clean. This will take 35 to 45 minutes for the loaf pan, or 30 to 35 minutes for the square pan.
• Cool the cake in the pan for 30 minutes before turning it out onto a rack to cool completely. The cake is easiest to slice when it's completely cool.

COCONUT CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter a 9 inch springform pan.
• In a small bowl, stir together the cake flour, sugar and baking powder.
• In a bowl, whisk together the oil, whole eggs and ¼ cup of water and stir in the flour mixture into the oil mixture until the batter is smooth.
• Beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until they hold stiff peaks.
• Stir ¼ of the whites into the batter to lighten and then fold in the remaining whites.
• Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in the middle of the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean.
• Remove cake and let cool.
• For pastry cream: Scald the milk with the vanilla bean.
• Scrape the seeds into the milk and discard bean (or rinse it, let it dry and ‘plant’ it into a sealed jar of sugar. In time you’ll have sugar with a vanilla fragrance.) In a bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup of sugar, flour and egg yolks.
• Whisk the hot milk into the yolk mixture, a little at a time, and whisk for 1 minute.
• Pour into the pan and bring custard to the boil, whisking constantly, for 1-2 minutes, o until it is thickened.
• Let cool, uncovered, and chill it, placing a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the hot custard to prevent a skin from forming.
• Beat the cream with the remaining 2 tblsps sugar until it holds stiff peaks.
• Fold 1 cup of the whipped cream into the pastry cream, reserving remainder, and fold in 1 cup of coconut into the pastry cream as well.
• Make chocolate sauce: Simmer the milk with the chocolate, stirring, until the chocolate is melted.
• Add the cream, butter and sugar and simmer, stirring, until smooth and slightly thickened.
• Keep sauce warm, covered.
• Cut cake horizontally into 3 layers with a serrated knife.
• Spread ½ of pastry cream on top of bottom layer and top with second layer.
• Spread remaining pastry cream on top of second layer and top with third layer, cut side down.
• Spread whipped cream on top and side of cake and sprinkle with coconut.
• Serve with sauce.