Chocolate Merlot Cake Recipes

DECADENT RED WINE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease two 9" round cake pans (works best if you also line the bottom with parchment paper). In a bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
• In a large bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter with the sugar at medium-high speed until fluffy, 4 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until incorporated. Add the vanilla and beat for 2 minutes longer. Working in two batches, alternately fold in the dry ingredients and the wine, until just incorporated.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pans, and bake for 40-45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pan for at least 2 hours, then turn it out onto a rack; let cool completely.
• Prepare the frosting by using mixer by beating the cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and salt together until smooth and creamy. Ice cake - should be just enough to adhere the two layers and ice the entire cake. (See Notes)

GRILLED NEW YORK STRIP WITH CHOCOLATE MERLOT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic, and jalapeno, saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add Merlot and reduce by half over high heat. Reduce heat to low and stir in soup mix and chocolate. Stir until smooth. Keep warm on very low heat until ready to serve.
• Preheat grill pan over high heat. Season steaks with taco seasoning. Spray pan with cooking spray and grill to desired doneness.
• Serve steaks with chocolate Merlot sauce.

CHOCOLATE MERLOT CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C/Gas 4). Butter the cake pans, line each pan with a round of parchment paper, and brush again with butter. Sprinkle the pans with flour, discarding the excess. Sift flour with the cocoa, baking soda, and salt into a bowl.
• 2. Cream the butter in an electric mixer, beat in the sugar, and continue beating until the mixture is light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one by one, and then the vanilla, and continue beating 1 to 2 minutes. Sift a third of the flour over the butter mixture and fold them together, using a spoon. Fold in a third of the wine. Add the remaining flour and wine alternately in two batches.
• 3. Spread batter in the prepared pans and bake in the oven until the cakes start to shrink from the sides of the pan, 30 to 35 minutes; a metal skewer inserted in the center should come out clean. Let the cakes cool 10 minutes in the pans, then turn them out on a rack to cool completely.
• 4. Meanwhile make the wine jelly: Melt the jelly with the wine over low heat, stirring gently until combined. Let it cool.
• 5. Shortly before serving, sandwich the cake with the cooled jelly. Sprinkle the top with confectioners' sugar and transfer the cake to a plate to serve.