Chocolate Layer Cake With Rocky Road Frosting Recipes

CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE WITH MILK CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 2 (9- by 2-inch) round cake pans and line bottom of each with a round of parchment or wax paper. Butter paper and dust pans with flour, knocking out excess.
• Sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt into a small bowl. Beat together butter and sugars in a large bowl using an electric mixer at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes in a standing mixer or 4 to 5 minutes with a handheld. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add chocolate and vanilla and beat until just combined. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately in 3 batches, beginning and ending with flour mixture and mixing until just combined.
• Divide batter between cake pans, spreading evenly, and bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center of each cake layer comes out clean, 25 to 35 minutes.
• Cool cake layers in pans on racks 10 minutes. Run a thin knife around edge of each layer, then invert onto racks. Peel off paper and cool layers completely.
• Make frosting:
• Heat milk in a 1- to 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until hot. Whisk together yolks, flour, 1/3 cup confectioners sugar, and a pinch of salt in a bowl, then add hot milk in a stream, whisking. Transfer custard to saucepan and bring to a boil over moderate heat, whisking. Reduce heat and simmer, whisking, 2 minutes (mixture will be very thick), then transfer to a large bowl. Cover surface of custard with a buttered round of wax paper and cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• Add vanilla and remaining cup confectioners sugar to custard and beat with cleaned beaters at moderate speed until combined well, then increase speed to medium-high and beat in butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, until smooth. Add chocolates and beat until combined well.
• Frost cake:
• Halve each cake layer horizontally using a long serrated knife. Layer cake, using a heaping 1/2 cup frosting between each layer, then frost top and sides with remaining frosting.

YELLOW LAYER CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter two round 9-inch cake pans, and line bottoms with parchment or wax paper. Sift cake flour, baking powder and salt together.
• Using a stand mixer, beat egg yolks on high for 5 minutes. With mixer still running, gradually add 1 cup sugar and continue beating until thick, light yellow ribbons form in bowl, about 5 minutes more, scraping bowl two or three times. Beat in the vanilla and lemon extracts. Sift flour mixture over batter and stir it in by hand until blended. Add melted butter, and stir until completely incorporated.
• In a large, clean bowl, and using the mixer's whisk attachment, beat egg whites and cream of tartar together on high until frothy. Gradually add remaining 1/3 cup sugar, and continue beating until whites are stiff but not dry. Stir 1 cup of whites into batter, then gently fold in remaining whites until blended. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake until golden and center springs back when lightly touched, about 25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then remove from pans and cool completely.
• For macaroon crunch: Toss nuts and coconut together, and spread on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees until golden and crunchy, 10 to 15 minutes, tossing twice. Set aside to cool.
• For chocolate frosting: Sift the confectioners' sugar, cocoa and salt together. Using a stand mixer, cream together the butter and margarine on high until light yellow and slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. With mixer still running, add corn syrup and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add sugar mixture in two batches, beating well after each. Blend in 3/4 cup cream until frosting is a spreading consistency, adding more if needed. Increase speed to high and beat until light and creamy, about 2 minutes more; there will be about 8 cups of frosting. Spoon about 1 cup into a pastry bag fitted with a medium star tip.
• For assembly: Using a long serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally into two equal layers. Spread first layer with about a fifth of frosting, then place second layer on top of it and frost it, too. Repeat with third and fourth layers. Frost sides with all remaining frosting except what is in pastry bag. Pat macaroon crunch on sides of cake (not top) until covered. Using frosting in pastry bag, pipe 6 rosettes on top of cake. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate, allowing cake to stand at room temperature for about an hour before slicing.

ROCKY ROAD SHEET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a rimmed cookie sheet (I use a 15x11-inch). Set aside.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan.
• Once butter has melted, stir in water and cocoa powder; bring to a boil.
• Once at a boil, add buttermilk, and stir to combine.
• Remove pan from heat.
• Add the yogurt, eggs, and vanilla, and stir until well-combined.
• Stir in sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt until just combined.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes.
• While the cake is baking prepare the icing.
• For the icing, combine the butter, cocoa, and buttermilk. Bring to a boil.
• Remove from heat, and add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and half of marshmallows. Stir to combine.
• Sprinkle remaining half marshmallows over hot cake.
• Pour icing over hot cake, and spread evenly over cake.
• Sprinkle with chopped almonds.

ROCKY ROAD TURTLES® CAKE

Steps:

• Bake the cake according to the directions on the box. Use two 8 or 9 inch pans. When the cakes are done, turn them out of the pans. Let them cool for about forty minutes. When the cakes are almost cool, but still slightly warm to the touch, cut small slits in the tops of each layer.
• Melt about 1 1/2 cups of the marshmallows and the chocolate frosting together in the microwave. Stir together ever thirty seconds or so to keep the sauce smooth.
• Melt the caramels in the microwave with a tablespoon or two of milk. Stir every twenty seconds or so.
• Place 1 layer of cake on serving dish. Pour enough of the chocolate frosting mixture over the bottom layer of the cake to cover the top and sink into the slits. It is okay if the frosting drips over the edges. Pour enough of the caramel sauce over the bottom layer to cover it liberally. Sprinkle about half of the nuts and remaining marshmallows over the caramel. Go easy on the marshmallows though, or the top won't sit well on the cake.
• Place top layer over marshmallows, and pour on the remaining chocolate frosting mixture to cover the top of the cake. Let it drip over the edges and cover the sides of the cake as well. Some of the frosting will pool at the bottom and that's fine.
• Now sprinkle remaining nuts and marshmallows over the top. Try to get them to stick to the sides as well. I use a lot of nuts and marshmallows on top. Finally, drizzle caramel sauce over the top of the cake.

CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE WITH ROCKY ROAD FROSTING

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Line bottom of pans with parchment; butter parchment. Dust pans with flour; tap out excess. Stir chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove from over water. Cool just to room temperature.
• Pour yogurt into 2-cup measuring cup. Add enough water to measure 1 1/2 cups; whisk to blend. Whisk in vanilla.
• Combine flour, sugar, butter, eggs, baking soda, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Add yogurt mixture and melted chocolate. Using electric mixer, beat until smooth, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula, about 3 minutes. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 10 minutes. Run small knife around sides of pans to loosen cakes. Invert onto racks; peel off parchment. Cool completely.
• Place 1 cake layer, flat side up, on platter. Spread 2/3 cup frosting over. Top with second cake layer, flat side down. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Press marshmallows around top edge in 1-inch band and 1 inch down sides from top edge of cake. Sprinkle walnuts over center of cake. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and store at room temperature.)