Chocolate Chiffon Valentine Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Let egg whites stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line two greased 9-in. heart-shaped pans with waxed paper and grease the paper; set aside. In a small bowl, combine cocoa and water until smooth; cool. , In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1 cup sugar, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks, oil, vanilla and cocoa mixture. Add to dry ingredients; beat until well blended. , In a small bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form; fold into chocolate mixture., Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely; carefully remove waxed paper. , In a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar until stiff peaks form; reserving 1-1/2 cups. Spread remaining frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. , Spoon reserved frosting into a pastry bag with a star tip. Pipe a decorative lattice design on cake top and sides. Garnish with strawberries and mint if desired. Refrigerate until serving.

Steps:

• Let eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. In a bowl, combine cocoa and water until smooth; cool for 20 minutes. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks, oil and vanilla; add to dry ingredients along with the cocoa mixture. Beat until well blended. In another large bowl and with clean beaters, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on high speed until stiff peaks form. Gradually fold into egg yolk mixture. , Gently spoon batter into an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through the batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake on lowest rack at 325° for 60-65 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched. Immediately invert pan; cool completely. Run a knife around sides and center tube of pan. Invert cake onto a serving plate., For icing, melt butter in a saucepan. Remove from the heat; stir in the confectioners' sugar, chocolate, vanilla and water. Drizzle over cake. Sprinkle with nuts if desired.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Sift cake flour, 3/4 cup sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a large bowl.
• Whisk together egg yolks, water, oil, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the egg mixture. Whisk until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl if necessary.
• Combine egg whites and cream of tartar together in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer with a whisk attachment until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 3/4 cup sugar and beat until well combined. Gently fold egg white mixture into the batter in 3 portions, until just combined.
• Pour batter into an ungreased 10-inch, 2-part tube pan and smooth the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a metal bowl and wire whisk in the freezer for at least 15 minutes.
• Remove cake from the oven. Invert pan onto an upside-down mug to cool completely, about 1 hour. Run a knife around the edges of the cooled cake to loosen it from the pan and carefully transfer it to a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut the cake in half horizontally.
• Combine sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract in the chilled metal bowl and whisk to combine. Add 2 tablespoons cream and stir. Add remaining cream and beat using the chilled whisk until peaks form.
• Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Combine chocolate, butter, and corn syrup in a metal bowl and place over the saucepan of simmering water. Stir until chocolate is melted, about 3 minutes. Remove glaze from heat and let cool slightly.
• Place the bottom half of the cake on a cake plate and top evenly with about 1 cup of frosting reserving the rest for decorating. Carefully place top layer over filling. Pour glaze over the cake and use a spatula to coat the sides of the cake with glaze. Fill remaining frosting into a piping bag and decorate cake to your liking.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Lightly grease a 10" bundt pan.
• Sift together the 1 cup sugar, cake flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt twice.
• In a separate bowl, mix the yolks, oil, water and vanilla.
• Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
• In the bowl of your mixer, whip the whites to soft peaks, then slowly add the last 1/2 cup sugar and whip to stiff peaks.
• Mix 1/3 of the whites into the chocolate base to lighten, the fold the remaining whites in gently until thoroughly incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the cake JUST begins to come away from the sides.
• Immediately remove from the oven and let cool, then turn out onto a plate.
• Notes: This cake needs no icing.
• I like to fill the center with lightly sweetened whipped cream and raspberries, OR, sift a little powdered sugar over top, slice and serve with whipped cream and hot fudge sauce, or whatever you can dream up.