Mocha Ganache Recipes

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.

VEGAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Cake: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly brush two 8-inch round cake pans with oil; set aside.
• Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt, and granulated sugar into a large bowl. In a small bowl, dissolve espresso powder in 2 cups warm water; whisk in oil and vanilla. Whisk wet ingredients into dry mixture until well incorporated. Quickly whisk in vinegar. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake until a tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes, then invert cakes onto a wire rack and let cool completely.
• Icing: in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat margarine on medium speed until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners' sugar, espresso powder, soy creamer, and vanilla; beat until smooth, 30 seconds more. Beat in cooled chocolate; set aside.
• Trim tops of cakes flat. Place a cake layer on a cake plate. Spread 1 1/2 cups icing evenly over it (reserve remaining icing for another use). Top with second cake layer, cut-side down.
• Ganache: Place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring golden syrup and soy creamer to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Remove from heat and pour over chocolate. Let stand 2 minutes, then stir until smooth. Pour ganache over cake, allowing it to drip down sides. Let stand at room temperature until set, at least 15 minutes.

MOCHA GANACHE

Steps:

• Microwave whipping cream in a glass bowl at HIGH 1 minute and 30 seconds or until hot, stirring once. Add chocolate morsels and coffee granules; stir until smooth. Chill 30 minutes or until spreading consistency.

ESPRESSO BROWNIES WITH MOCHA GANACHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom of the pan with an overhang on two opposite sides.
• For the brownies: Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder and salt in a small bowl and set aside. Whisk together the sugar, butter and oil in a large bowl. Add the eggs and vanilla and whisk just until combined. Using a spatula, stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until no flour streaks remain and then fold in the chocolate chips. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake until the center is slightly set, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool for about 30 minutes.
• For the ganache: When the brownies are ready, put the chocolate in a small heatproof bowl and set aside. Heat the cream and coffee in a small saucepan just until it barely reaches a simmer. Pour the liquid over the chocolate and let sit for 10 seconds before whisking until smooth and shiny. Pour the ganache over the cooled brownies, gently shaking to completely coat the top. Let sit at room temperature until completely cool (about 1 hour) or pop into the refrigerator for 15 minutes before sprinkling with sea salt (if using). Run a knife around the edge of the baking pan and use the parchment to lift out the brownies before slicing.

MOCHA GANACHE TRUFFLE CUPS

Steps:

• Place the chocolate in a 2-quart mixing bowl. In a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream to a boil. Remove from the heat, take 1 tablespoon of hot cream and dissolve the espresso powder in it, then blend it back into the rest of the cream. Pour the hot cream into the bowl with the chocolate. Let the mixture stand for 1 minute, then stir together with a rubber spatula, whisk, or immersion blender until thoroughly blended. Cover the mixture, let cool to room temperature, and chill in the refrigerator until thick but not stiff (2 to 3 hours).
• Fit a 12-inch pastry bag with a large, plain round pastry tip with a 1/2-inch opening and fill partway with the ganache mixture. Pipe the mixture into 1-inch foil candy cups up to the top edge. Place a mocha bean on top of each cup. Chill the truffle cups in the refrigerator until they are set (1 hour).
• In a tightly covered container wrapped in several layers of aluminum foil, the truffle cups will keep for 1 month in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer. The truffle cups are best served at room temperature.
• Hazelnut Ganache Truffle Cups: Omit the espresso powder. After stirring together the chocolate and whipping cream, stir in 2/3 cup toasted, skinned, finely ground hazelnuts. Rather than placing a mocha bean on top of each truffle cup, place a toasted, skinned, whole hazelnut, pointed end up on top.
• White Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache Truffle Cups: Follow the instructions for Hazelnut Ganache Truffle Cups above, and additionally substitute 10 ounces white chocolate for the bittersweet chocolate.
• Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache Truffle Cups: Follow the instructions for Hazelnut Ganache Truffle Cups above, and additionally substitute 9 ounces milk chocolate for the bittersweet chocolate.