Mocha Blackout Cake Recipes

EBINGER'S BLACKOUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease and flour 2-9" cake pans.
• Make the cake:.
• Stir the cocoa with with some of the milk to form a paste.
• Stir in the rest of the milk and beat with a whisk until the mixture is smooth.
• Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixture, combine the butter, shortening, sugar, eggs, vanilla.
• Beat for one minute, or until the mixture is fluffy.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking powder and salt.
• Add the mixture, alternating with the chocolate mixture, to the contents of the bowl, beating between additions, beginning and ending with flour.
• Beat only until the dry ingredients are absorbed.
• Divide the batter between the 2 cake pans, and smooth with a spatula.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes until the cake shrinks from the sides of the pans, and the top springs back when gently pressed with a fingertip.
• Do not overbake!
• Cool on wire racks for 10 minutes, then carefully invert onto racks.
• Turn right-side up and let cool completely.
• Make the pudding:.
• Combine sugar, cornstarch and salt in a small, heavy saucepan.
• Gradually add the milk, mixing thoroughly with a whisk.
• Add the chocolate.
• Place over moderate heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and bubbles; about 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Pour into a small bowl, and put plastic wrap or wax paper directly on the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming.
• Cool.
• Make the frosting:.
• Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler.
• Remove from heat and cool slightly.
• In a medium bowl beat the butter, vanilla and eggs until well blended.
• The mixture will not blend completely- Don't worry!
• Gradually beat in the sugar, about 2 T at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Beat in the melted chocolately.
• Chill the frosting while assmebling the rest of the cake, about 15 minutes.
• Assembly:.
• Using a serrated knife, cut each cake layer in half horizontally.
• Place one of the layers in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to make crumbs.
• Set Aside.
• Sandwich the remaining 3 layers with the chocolate pudding filling.
• I work on a cardboard cake circle, or the bottom of a springform pan.
• Frost the top and sides of the cake with the chocolate frosting.
• Working over a baking sheet, hold the cake in the palm of your hand.
• Using your other hand, press the cake crumbs all over the top and sides of the cake.
• Pick up any crumbs that drop, and press them back on.

MOCHA BLACKOUT CAKE

Steps:

• For the Cake: Heat the oven to 350 degrees F and arrange a rack in the middle. Coat 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with butter and dust with cocoa powder.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together cocoa, flour, espresso powder, baking soda, and baking powder until well combined; set aside. Combine the sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla, and salt in a separate large bowl, and whisk until combined and smooth. Combine the milk and coffee in a small bowl. Add 1/3 of the milk mixture into the sugar/egg mixture and whisk until just incorporated. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture, and whisk until smooth. Continue with the remaining milk and flour mixture, alternating between each and whisking until all the ingredients are just incorporated and smooth.
• Divide the batter evenly between prepared pans. Put the pans on a baking sheet. Bake, rotating the baking sheet 180 degrees halfway through, until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes.
• Remove the cakes from the oven and let them rest, in the pans, on a cooling rack for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans, and cool completely before proceeding.
• For the Pudding: Combine the sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder, espresso powder and salt in a medium saucepan and whisk to evenly combine. Whisk in the milk and vanilla until completely incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Whisk in the egg yolks until combined.
• Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and bubbles, about 7 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, until completely thickened, about 1 minute more.
• Remove from the heat and immediately add the chocolate and the butter, and stir until melted and evenly combined. Put plastic wrap directly on surface of the pudding and chill at least 1 1/2 hours.
• To assemble: Arrange 1 of the cakes on a flat cake plate and top with 1/3 of the pudding, spreading evenly and almost to the edges. Top with second cake then use the remaining pudding to frost the top and sides of the cake.
• Press the cookie crumbs into the sides and top of the cake. Pick up any fallen crumbs and apply them, pressing gently to cover the cake completely. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.
• For the Whipped Cream: In a medium bowl, add the cream and whisk until soft peaks form. Add the rum and continue to whisk until stiff and the cream sticks to the whisk. Serve the whipped cream on the side.

ALL-CHOCOLATE BLACKOUT CAKE FROM EBINGER'S

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Butter and lightly flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
• Make the cake: Place the cocoa in a small bowl and whisk in the boiling water to form a paste.
• Combine the chocolate and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat.
• Stir frequently until the chocolate melts, about 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Whisk a small amount of the hot chocolate milk into the cocoa paste to warm it.
• Whisk the cocoa mixture into the milk mixture.
• Return the pan to medium heat an stir for 1 minute.
• Remove and set aside to cool until tepid.
• In the bowl of a mixer, cream the butter and sugar together.
• Beat in the egg yolks, one at a time, and add the vanilla.
• Slowly stir in the chocolate mixture.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• Using a spatula or a wooden spoon, slowly add the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture.
• Fold until just mixed.
• In another bowl, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the batter.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cakes comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
• Cool the cakes in the pans on a rack for 15 minutes.
• Gently remove the cakes from the pans and continue to cool.
• While the cake is baking, make the filling: Combine the cocoa and boiling water in a small saucepan over low heat.
• Stir in the sugar and chocolate.
• Add the dissolved cornstarch paste and salt to the pan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Boil for 1 minute.
• Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the vanilla and butter.
• Transfer the mixture to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until cool.
• Make the frosting: Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over hot, not simmering, water, stirring until smooth.
• Remove the top of the double boiler from the heat and whisk in the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time.
• Return the top to the hat, if necessary, to melt the butter.
• Whisk in the hot water all at once and whisk until smooth.
• Whisk in the corn syrup and vanilla.
• Cover and refrigerate for up to 15 minutes prior to using.
• Assemble the cake: Use a sharp serrated knife to slice each cake layer horizontally in half to form 4 layers.
• Set 1 layer aside.
• Place 1 layer on a cake round or plate.
• Generously swath the layer with 1/3 of the filling.
• Add the second layer and repeat.
• Set the third layer on top.
• Quickly apply a layer of frosting to the top and the sides of the cake.
• Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, crumble the remaining cake layer.
• Apply the remaining frosting to the cake.
• Sprinkle it liberally with the cake crumbs.
• Serve the cake within 24 hours, store in a cool place.
• Note: The filling ingredients make for a very runny filling, which is how a real Ebinger's cake should be.
• For those who desire a less syrupy consistency, they can stir in an additional 1 to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch.

MOCHA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with coffee and sour cream, beating well after each addition. , Pour into three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Beat in the chocolate, coffee and vanilla until blended. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

BLACKOUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease and flour 2 9-inch cake pans.
• Tap out excess flour.
• In a large bowl beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.
• Add eggs and vanilla extract; beat till well blended.
• Add melted chocolate and beat 1-2 minutes.
• Mix together flour and baking soda and salt.
• Add to chocolate mixture in 2 additions alternately with the buttermilk.
• Beat till well blended.
• On low speed, add boiling water and beat till smooth.
• (Batter will be thin.) Pour into prepared pans.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes or until tester inserted in center comes out clean.
• Let cool in pans for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Turn out onto wire racks and cool completely.
• For Ganache:Melt chocolate chips and cream together and stir until smooth.
• Stir in butter and vanilla.
• Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until ganache holds its shape and is thick enough to spread on cake layers.
• Cover one layer with a little more than 1/3 of the ganache.
• Top with second layer; frost top and sides with remaining ganache.
• Press almond slivers into sides of cake.
• Refrigerate 3 to 4 hours for ganache to firm back up for easier slicing.

CHOCOLATE BLACKOUT CAKE

Steps:

• Make the filling: Bring the milk to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk the sugar, cornstarch, vanilla and egg in a medium heatproof bowl until smooth. Gradually whisk half of the hot milk into the sugar mixture, then return to the pan with the remaining milk. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture boils and thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl (strain through a fine-mesh sieve if it looks lumpy), then stir in the chocolate until melted. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface and refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the ganache: Put the chocolate and salt in a large heatproof bowl. Bring 1 1/2 cups heavy cream to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat; pour over the chocolate and let sit 5 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Pour 3/4 cup of the ganache into a liquid measuring cup and set aside at room temperature. Refrigerate the remaining ganache in the bowl until thick but not set, about 1 hour.
• Assemble the cake: Put 1 cake layer on a platter; spread the filling on top, stopping about 1/2 inch from the edge. Top with the second cake layer and press down gently.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons heavy cream to the chilled ganache and beat with a mixer on medium speed until just fluffy, about 1 minute (do not overbeat). Frost the whole cake with the whipped ganache. Pour the room-temperature ganache on top, letting it drip down the sides. Let set before slicing, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two 9-inch-round cake pans with cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Whisk the cocoa powder and 1 1/2 cups boiling water in a medium bowl until smooth; set aside. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl until combined. Add the eggs, vegetable oil, sour cream and vanilla and beat with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the cocoa mixture in a steady stream until just combined, then finish mixing with a rubber spatula. (The batter will be thin.)
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans and tap the pans against the counter to help the batter settle. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer to racks and let cool 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the pans and turn the cakes out onto the racks to cool completely. Remove the parchment. Trim the tops of the cakes with a long serrated knife to make them level, if desired.

MYSTERY MOCHA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt the chocolate and butter together over hot water. Meanwhile, sift together 1 1/4 cups of the sugar, sifted flour, baking powder and salt. Stir the dry mixture into the chocolate mixture and blend. Stir in the milk and vanilla. Pour into a greased, square 9 by 9-inch cake pan. Mix brown sugar, remaining 1/4 cup sugar and cocoa powder and sprinkle over the batter. Pour coffee over and bake for 40 minutes. Serve warm or cold from the pan.