Christmas Cake With Fudge Frosting Recipes

FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• In 3-quart saucepan, mix granulated sugar and cocoa. Stir in milk, butter, corn syrup and salt. Heat to boiling, stirring frequently. Boil 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool 45 minutes.
• Beat in vanilla and enough powdered sugar for spreading consistency.
• Frost 13x9-inch cake, or fill and frost 8- or 9-inch two-layer cake.

THE BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° F (177°C). Prepare four 8-inch round cake pans with parchment rounds, and grease the sides. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, sift flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Whisk to combine, set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy, 4-5 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
• Lower the speed to medium-low and add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition until just combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
• In a small bowl, combine the vanilla and instant coffee granules. Add the sour cream to the batter along with the vanilla coffee mixture and beat on medium speed until combined.
• Alternately add dry ingredients in thirds and buttermilk in 2 additions to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Beat each addition just until combined. Divide batter equally between the cake pans, a little over 2 cups per pan.
• Bake two layers at a time for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and cake springs back when lightly touched.
• Remove cakes from oven and allow to cool in pans for about 10 minutes, then turn onto cooling racks to cool completely before frosting. Or at this point, you can wrap all the cake layers tightly in plastic wrap and freeze or refrigerate until ready to assemble.
• Put chocolate in a heat-safe bowl and heat in the microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval until chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Set aside to cool.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand-held mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5-6 minutes. \
• Turn the mixer to low, and gradually add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, along with the cocoa powders.
• Once incorporated, add hot water, sour cream, vanilla and salt and beat until combined. Pour in cooled melted chocolate and mix on low to combine.
• Once the chocolate is combined, increase mixer speed to high and whip until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
• Once cake layers are completely cooled, place one layer on a turntable. Using an offset spatula, spread about 1 cup of the fudge frosting on top. Repeat with all layers, placing the final layer upside down.
• Frost the entire cake in a thick layer of fudge frosting. Use the back of a spoon to create swirls in the frosting. Top with mini chocolate chips of fresh fruit. Enjoy!

CREAMY FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• Melt chocolate and butter in a metal bowl over barely simmering water. Stir until smooth., Place milk, sugar and vanilla in a blender; cover and process 1 minute to dissolve sugar. Add warm chocolate mixture; cover and process just until mixture thickens to desired consistency, about 30 seconds. Store in refrigerator.

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of two greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper., In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla and cooled chocolate. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream and water, beating well after each addition., Transfer batter to prepared pans. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove parchment. Cool completely., For frosting, in a small heavy saucepan, melt butter and chocolate over low heat. Remove from heat; cool 5 minutes. In a large bowl, beat confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add chocolate mixture, beating until light and fluffy. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake.

CHRISTMAS CAKE - EASY MOIST FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• Place dried fruit and juice/brandy in a large microwavable container. Microwave 1 1/2 minutes on high or until hot.
• Stir to coat all fruit in liquid. Cover then set aside for 1 hour (to plump up/soak and cool).
• Preheat oven to 160°C / 320°F (140°C fan). Grease and line a 21 - 22 cm / 8 - 9" round cake pan with baking paper (parchment paper) (7 cm / 2.75" tall).
• Using an electric beater, beat butter and sugar until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute on speed 5).
• Add oil and molasses, beat until combined.
• Add salt, spices and baking powder - beat until incorporated.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just incorporated
• Stir in the flour.
• When mostly incorporated, stir in the fruit mix (including all the extra liquid in bowl) and walnuts (if using).
• Pour into cake pan, cover with foil and bake for 3 hours 15 minutes, removing foil the last 45 minutes. Skewer inserted into middle should come out clean with no batter on it.
• Remove from oven and cool for 20 minutes before transferring to cooling rack. Cool completely before serving.
• Cake is moist and so full flavoured, it can be eaten plain. But see below for decorating and serving ideas (traditionally served with pouring custard).
• Cutting: Either cut into thin wedges, or cut cake into thin strips (2cm / 0.75" or so), then cut those strips into serving size pieces.
• Traditional White Christmas Cake (pictured in post) - Marzipan and fondant, see Decorating Note.
• Simple - pile top with fresh cherries or other fruit, dust with icing sugar (powdered sugar). Wrap a ribbon around the cake for extra touch!
• Drippy white glaze - use the glaze in this Lemon Cake recipe, but leave out the lemon juice (ie make a plain sweet white glaze). Flip cake upside down for flat surface then glaze per that recipe.
• Serving - serve with custard for a traditional experience! Either homemade custard or store bought pouring custard (jazz it up by mixing in vanilla seed paste!).

EASY CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line the base of two 18cm sandwich tins. Sieve the flour, cocoa powder and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Add the caster sugar and mix well.
• Make a well in the centre and add the golden syrup, eggs, sunflower oil and milk. Beat well with an electric whisk until smooth.
• Pour the mixture into the two tins and bake for 25-30 mins until risen and firm to the touch. Remove from oven, leave to cool for 10 mins before turning out onto a cooling rack.
• To make the icing, beat the unsalted butter in a bowl until soft. Gradually sieve and beat in the icing sugar and cocoa powder, then add enough of the milk to make the icing fluffy and spreadable.
• Sandwich the two cakes together with the butter icing and cover the sides and the top of the cake with more icing.

YELLOW SHEET CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Generously grease and lightly flour a 12×17 inch half sheet pan or a 9×13 inch quarter sheet pan. Set aside.
• Whisk the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed for 3 full minutes. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Turn the mixer down to medium-high speed and beat in the eggs and vanilla extract until combined. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed. Beat in the sour cream.
• Add 1/2 of the cake flour mixture/dry ingredients and 1/2 of the milk and beat on low speed until combined. Add the remaining dry ingredients and milk and beat on low speed until combined. Do not overmix this batter. The batter will be smooth, velvety, and slightly thick. You may need to whisk it all by hand to make sure there are no lumps at the bottom of the bowl.
• Spread the cake batter into the prepared pan. Smooth it out into a thin, even layer. For a 12×17 inch sheet cake, bake for 20-22 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. For a 9×13 inch sheet cake, bake for 36-40 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. With either size, make sure you rotate the cake pan once or twice during bake time.
• Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool in the pan placed on a wire rack. As the cake cools, make the frosting.
• Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed until pale, smooth, and creamy, about 2 minutes. Using a fine mesh strainer or sieve, sift the confectioners' sugar and cocoa together. Add the sugar/cocoa mixture to the butter, then beat on low speed for 20 seconds. Stop the mixer, then add the milk, corn syrup, vanilla, and salt. Beat on medium-high speed for 2 minutes. If the frosting is too thick, beat in an extra splash of milk.
• Frost cooled cake and top with sprinkles. Slice and serve. Cover leftovers tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

CHRISTMAS CAKE WITH FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Mix chopped dried figs, dried currants and brandy in medium bowl. Let stand 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1-inch jelly roll pan. Line with parchment. Butter and flour parchment. Drain fruit mixture; reserve soaking liquid. Mix sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and spices in large bowl. Whisk prune juice, buttermilk, butter and eggs in medium bowl to blend. Add prune juice mixture to dry ingredients and whisk to blend. fold in drained fruit.
• Pour batter into prepared pan; smooth top. Bake until tester inserted into center o cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in pan on rack.
• Make frosting:
• Bring reserved fruit soaking liquid, cream and butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan, whisking until butter melts. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth.Add sour cream and whisk to blend. Refrigerate frosting until thick enough to spread, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Run sharp knife around pan sides to loosen cake. Turn out cake onto work surface. Peel off parchment. Using serrated knife, cut cake crosswise into three 5 10-inch rectangles. Place 1 cake piece on platter. Tuck waxed paper strips under cake on all sides to protect platter. Spread 1/2 cup frosting over cake. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped walnuts. Top with second cake piece. Spread 1/2 cup frosting over. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped walnuts. Top with third cake piece. Spoon 3/4 cup frosting into pastry bag fitted with small star tip and reserve. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Press remaining chopped walnuts onto sides of cake. Remove waxed paper strips. Using reserved frosting, pipe 5 rosettes atop cake along each ling edge, spacing evenly. Place walnut halves between rosettes. Refrigerate 1 hour to set frosting. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated. Let stand 2 hours at room temperature before serving.)