Chocolate Amaretto Layer Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Line bottoms of 3 greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper., In a bowl, whisk flour and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk sour cream, milk and amaretto until blended. In a large bowl, cream butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extracts. Add flour mixture alternately with sour cream mixture, beating well after each addition., Transfer batter to prepared pans. Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely., In a large bowl, beat butter, vanilla and salt until creamy. Beat in enough confectioners' sugar, alternately with amaretto, to reach desired consistency. Reserve 2/3 cup frosting for piping., Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides with remaining frosting., Pipe reserved frosting around bottom edge of cake. If desired, decorate cake with flowers, using almonds for petals and M&M's for the centers. Pipe designs on frosting with melted chocolate as desired.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil a 10 inch non-stick Bundt pan.
• In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, pudding mix, 1/2 cup of cold water, oil, 1/2 cup amaretto and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract. Blend well for approximately 3 minutes.
• Pour batter into prepared 10 inch Bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes to an hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Remove cake from oven, and use an ice pick or skewer to make as many holes as possible into the cake. Apply glaze while cake is still warm. Slowly and patiently drizzle glaze over cake, including the edges and center of Bundt pan. Allow cake to cool in the pan for at least 2 hours.
• To make the glaze: Combine butter, sugar, 1/4 cup water, and 1/2 cup amaretto in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, and continue to boil for 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Topping: Lightly toast slivered almonds in the oven. This will take 5 to 10 minutes. Stir frequently and be careful not to burn. Heat 1/4 cup of the prepared frosting in the microwave for 10 seconds, to soften. Place the cake on serving dish and use a spoon to drizzle the softened frosting over the cake. Scatter toasted almonds over cake before frosting cools.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Spray three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides with nonstick spray. Then line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Combine cake mix, 1 1/3 cups water, eggs, oil, 3 tablespoons amaretto, and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract in large bowl; whisk until well blended.
• Toss 1 cup of chocolate chips in with 1 tablespoon flour, then gently fold into batter.
• Divide batter among prepared pans. (the layers will be thin).
• Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes.
• Run knife around pan sides. Turn cakes out onto racks; cool completely. Brush each cake layer with 2 tablespoons amaretto.
• Combine butter and cream in medium saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until butter melts and mixture comes to simmer.
• Remove from heat. Add remaining 2 cups chocolate chips and whisk until melted.
• Mix in remaining 3 tablespoons amaretto. Cool until barely lukewarm, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk in sour cream and remaining 1/4 teaspoon almond extract, then powdered sugar.
• Refrigerate frosting just until thick enough to spread, whisking occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread 1/3 cup frosting over. Top with second cake layer. Spread 1/3 cup frosting over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. (concentrate most of the frosting on the top of the cake)
• Press nuts around the sides of the cake. Chill at leat 2 hours.
• (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover with cake dome; keep chilled.).

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spray a 9-inch springform pan the nonstick spray. Refrigerate. Microwave the chocolate until melted and smooth, stirring every 20 seconds, for about 1 minute.
• Combine the almonds and cookies in processor. Pulse until the almonds and cookies are finely ground. Transfer the nut mixture to a medium bowl. Add the butter and sugar to the processor and blend until creamy and smooth. Add the grated orange peel and pulse briefly, until incorporated. Add the eggs 1 at a time. Blend until the eggs are incorporated. Clean the sides of the mixing bowl and blend again. Add the nut mixture and melted chocolate. Pulse until blended. Clean the sides of the bowl. Blend again.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the center puffs and a tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan for 15 minutes.
• Transfer the cake to a platter. Sift the cocoa powder over and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Spray three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides with nonstick spray.
• Combine cake mix, 1 1/3 cups water, eggs, oil, 3 tablespoons amaretto, and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract in large bowl; whisk until well blended.
• Mix in 1 cup chocolate chips.
• Divide batter among prepared pans.
• Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 15 minutes.
• Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes.
• Run knife around pan sides.
• Turn cakes out onto racks; cool completely. Brush each cake layer with 2 tablespoons amaretto.
• Combine butter and cream in medium saucepan.
• Stir over medium-low heat until butter melts and mixture comes to simmer.
• Remove from heat.
• Add remaining 2 cups chocolate chips and whisk until melted.
• Mix in remaining 3 tablespoons amaretto.
• Cool until barely lukewarm, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk in sour cream and remaining 1/4 teaspoon almond extract, then powdered sugar.
• Refrigerate frosting just until thick enough to spread, whisking occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• Place 1 cake layer on platter; spread 1/3 cup frosting over; top with second cake layer; spread 1/3 cup frosting over; top with third cake layer; spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake.
• Press nuts around bottom 2 inches of cake.
• Chill 2 hours.
• (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover with cake dome; keep chilled.)
• **Cook time does not include cooling time or chill time.