French Chocolate Cake Recipes

FRENCH CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Line two greased 9-in. round baking pans with waxed paper and grease the paper; set aside. In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until crumbly. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla. Stir in chocolate and coffee. Combine flour, salt and baking soda; gradually add to chocolate mixture alternately with buttermilk (batter will be thick). , Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes. , Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring sugar, milk and butter to a gentle boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat; stir in extract. , Invert cakes onto wire racks; drizzle with glaze. Cool completely. In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and milk; stir until smooth. Refrigerate until spreadable, stirring occasionally. , Place one cake on a serving plate; spread with filling. Top with remaining cake. Spread whipped topping over top and sides of cake. Store in the refrigerator. Garnish with chocolate curls.

EVELYN SHARPE'S FRENCH CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line the base of an 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
• Melt the chocolate gently in the top of a double boiler over hot, not boiling, water. This is a critical step in the preparation and should be done very slowly (or it can be done more speedily in the microwave).
• Remove the melted chocolate from the heat and stir in the butter, flour and sugar. Beat the yolks lightly and whisk into the chocolate mixture gradually.
• Beat the egg whites until they hold a definite shape but are not dry and fold into the chocolate mixture. Overbeating or underbeating will ruin the cake. The beaten egg whites should be folded smoothly, quickly and easily into the chocolate mixture. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat; open the oven door, leaving it ajar, and allow the cake to cool completely in the oven.
• The cake is best served a little warm. Decorate with whipped cream. Run a long, thin knife under hot water and then slice the cake into small slivers. It is rich.

THE BEST FRENCH CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 160C (325F). Generously butter a 9.5 inch (22cm) springform pan, then sprinkle with a little sugar and tap out the excess.
• Set aside 3 tbsp of the sugar. Place the chocolate, butter and remaining sugar in a heavy saucepan and cook over low heat until the chocolate and butter have melted and the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the vanilla extract and let the mixture cool slightly.
• Beat the egg yolks into the chocolate mixture (when cool - otherwise the eggs will cook), beating each in well, then sift in the flour.
• In a clean grease-free bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites slowly until they are frothy. Increase the speed, add the salt and continue beating until soft peaks form. Sprinkle over the reserved sugar and beat until the whites are stiff and glossy. Beat one third of the whites into the chocolate mixture (I use my electric mixer for this), then fold in the remaining whites (with a wooden spoon).
• Carefully pour the mixture into the pan and tap the pan gently to release any air bubbles.
• Bake the cake for about 35 to 45 minutes until well risen and the top springs back when touched lightly with a fingertip. (If the cake appears to rise unevenly, rotate pan after 20 to 25 minutes.) Transfer the cake onto a wire rack, remove the side of the pan and let cool completely. Remove the pan base, dust with confectioner's sugar and serve.
• Enjoy!

FRENCH CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Generously grease a 9-inch springform cake tin. Dust with a little sugar, and tap out the excess.
• Set aside 3 tablespoons of the sugar. Place the chocolate, butter, and remaining sugar in a large, heavy-based pan. Cook over moderate heat until the chocolate and butter have melted, and the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from heat. Stir in the vanilla, and leave the mixture to cool slightly.
• Beat the egg yolks into the chocolate mixture one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the flour.
• In a large bowl, scrupulously clean and grease-free, beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and salt, and beat to stiff peaks. Sprinkle reserved sugar over egg whites, and beat until stiff and glossy. Use a whisk or spatula to fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture, then carefully fold in the remaining whites. Carefully pour batter into the prepared tin, and tap the tin gently to release air bubbles.
• Bake until well risen and a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Check the cake after 30 minutes: if the cake appears to rise unevenly, rotate after 30 to 35 minutes. If the cake starts to crack or become too brown, place a piece of foil lightly over the top. Transfer the cake to a wire cooling rack, and remove the sides of the springform tin. Cool completely, and then remove the base. Do not attempt to remove the cake before it's completely cooled as this cake is very fragile.

FRENCH CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Generously grease a 9-2-inch springform pan.
• Line the bottom with parchment paper and grease.
• Wrap the bottom and sides with foil to prevent water from seeping through in cooking In a saucepan, over low heat, melt the chocolate, butter and sugar, stirring frequently until smooth.
• Remove from the heat, cool slightly and stir in the brandy or liqueur In a large bowl, beat the eggs lightly for 1 minute.
• Beat in the flour, the slowly beat in the chocolate mixture until well blended.
• Pour into the pan. Place the springform pan in a large roasting pan.
• Add enough boiling water to come 3/4 inch up the side of the springform pan.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the edge of the cake is set but the center is soft.
• Remove the springform pan from the oven and remove the foil.
• Cool on a cooling rack.
• The cake will sink in the center and have it's classic slim form and it cools.
• Don't worry if the top cracks slightly Remove the sides of the springform pan and turn the cake onto a wire rack.
• Lift the pans base off and carefully peel the parchment paper off the bottom of the cake.
• Leave the cake on the rack until it cools completely.
• Cut 6 strips of parchment paper 1-inch wide and place the randomly over the cake.
• Dust with the powdered sugar, then carefully remove the paper.
• Slide the cake onto a serving platter and serve with the whipped or sour cream.

FRENCH MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Place butter and chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine eggs and egg yolk in a bowl. Add sugar and whisk until mixture is light yellow in color and sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes.
• Pour some of the warm chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, whisking quickly to avoid scrambling the eggs. Add remaining chocolate and whisk until combined and smooth. Sift in flour, cocoa powder, and salt; fold in with a spatula until combined.
• Butter four 5-ounce ramekins and dust with cocoa powder. Spoon batter into the prepared ramekins, tapping gently to settle any air bubbles. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Place ramekins in a baking dish and bake until edges start to pull away from the sides, 13 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and dust with powdered sugar. Serve warm.