Austrian Chocolate Ecstasy Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F (170°C/Gas mark 3) and grease and line with parchment, or waxed paper, two 8-inch round cake pans.
• Separate the eggs. Put the whites in one bowl and the yolks in another. Beat the yolks until smooth.
• Beat the butter and sugar together with a wooden spoon until creamy. Stir in the egg yolks gradually.
• Break the chocolate into pieces and melt in double boiler over low heat or slowly in microwave (10 seconds, stir, 10 seconds, stir & continue until melted) Stir chocolate into the creamed mixture.
• Put the egg whites into a large bowl, or mixer fitted with a whip attachment, and whisk until they are firm and form soft peaks when you lift the whisk.
• Mix the flour into the chocolate mixture. Then one spoonful at a time, fold the egg whites into the cake batter with a metal spoon.
• Pour the mixture into the cake pans. Smooth the top with the back of your spoon and bake the cakes for 35 minutes.
• When baked, run a knife around the edge of the cakes to loosen and turn out onto a wire rack to cool.
• For Filling: Melt the chocolate in a bowl. Mix in powdered sugar and the butter. Use a knife to spread the chocolate paste onto one half of the cake. Then, put the other cake on top.
• Melt the preserves in a pan over a low heat. Spread it over the top and sides of the cake with a blunt knife.
• For Icing: Sift the cocoa powder and the powdered sugar into a bowl. Add water, a teaspoon at a time, until it reaches a spreading consistency then spread it all over the cake.

Steps:

• In a microwave, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. In a large bowl, beat the sugar, egg, yolk, extract and chocolate mixture. Gradually add flour and mix well. Stir in nuts. Shape into 3/4-in. balls and place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets., Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until set. Cool. , For glaze, in a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Add the extract, sugar and milk and mix well., Dip tops of cookies into glaze; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. Store in airtight containers.