PL Delights: Chocolate Guinness Cake from Bleubird

Yum! This recipe looks delicious from one of our favorite bloggers, bleubird. Bake this for your next family event :)

chocolate guinness cake by nigella lawson.

you will need...

1 cup guinness
8.83 oz unsalted butter
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups superfine sugar
¾ cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 ½ teaspoons baking soda

for the frosting

8 oz cream cheese
1 ¼ cups confectioners sugar
½ cup heavy cream (or whipping cream)

directions in nigella's words...

preheat the oven to gas mark 4/180°C/350ºF, and butter and line a 23cm / 9 inch spring form tin. pour the guinness into a large wide saucepan, add the butter - in spoons or slices - and heat until the butter's melted, at which time you should whisk in the cocoa and sugar. beat the sour cream with the eggs and vanilla and then pour into the brown, buttery, beery pan and finally whisk in the flour and bicarb. pour the cake batter into the greased and lined tin and bake for 45 minutes to an hour. leave to cool completely in the tin on a cooling rack, as it is quite a damp cake.

when the cake's cold, sit it on a flat platter or cake stand and get on with the icing. lightly whip the cream cheese until smooth, sieve over the confectioners sugar and then beat them both together. or do this in a processor, putting the unsieved confectioners sugar in first and blitz to remove lumps before adding the cheese. add the cream and beat again until it makes a spreadable consistency. ice the top of the black cake so that it resembles the frothy top of the famous pint.

Valentines Day Chocolate Truffle

Ingredients
For the Ganache:
21 ounces bittersweet chocolate
18 ounces (generous 2 cups) heavy cream
2 ounces (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, softened
2 ounces (1/4 cup) orange liqueur or raspberry vodka (optional)
For the Coating:
3 pounds bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups Dutch-process cocoa powder, sifted
2 1/2 cups shredded coconut, toasted
2 cups nuts, toasted and finely chopped

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/chocolate-truffles-recipe4/index.html?oc=linkback

Directions

1. Chop the chocolate: Use a chef's knife to chop the chocolate as finely as possible; this will help it melt quickly and evenly. Then place it in a medium glass bowl. (Glass retains heat, so the chocolate will stay melted longer.)
   
   Make the ganache: Heat the cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until bubbles form around the edge. Remove from the heat and add about one-fourth of the chocolate; whisk until smooth. Slowly pour the cream mixture over the remaining chocolate in the bowl and let sit until the chocolate melts, about 30 seconds. Puree the melted chocolate with an immersion blender or beat with a whisk until all the lumps disappear and the ganache is smooth. Stir in the butter until smooth, then add liqueur, if desired. (Jacques adds the liqueur last, so the flavor doesn't cook off.)
   
   Pour and set: Line a rimmed baking sheet with plastic wrap, leaving a 2-foot overhang on one side. Pour the ganache onto the baking sheet and spread evenly with a rubber spatula. Fold the plastic wrap back over and press directly onto the surface of the ganache. Let cool at room temperature at least 4 hours or overnight.
   
   For the truffles: Using two teaspoons, scoop small mounds of the ganache onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Set aside until firm enough to roll, about 15 minutes in the refrigerator or 2 hours at room temperature.
   
   Roll into balls: Place the chocolate mounds between both palms, squeeze slightly and roll. Refrigerate until ready to coat.
   
   Temper the chocolate: This is a gentle melting and cooling process that gives chocolate a glossy finish. For the coating, place the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water and stir until melted, about 40 minutes. Pour into a clean glass bowl; stir to cool to between 88 degrees and 90 degrees, about 40 minutes. (Jacques recommends a laser thermometer for checking the temperature.)
   
   Dip and coat: Spread out the cocoa powder, coconut and nuts on parchment paper. One at a time, dip each truffle in the tempered chocolate with a two-prong dipping fork (you can buy one at a baking-supply store or break off the middle tines of a plastic fork). Lift the truffle and let the excess chocolate drip off. Roll in toppings and place on a rack to dry. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
   
   
   
   Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/chocolate-truffles-recipe4/index.html?oc=linkback