Hot Cocoa Cake Recipes

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray four 6-inch cake pans with cooking spray.
• Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions. Divide the batter among the prepared pans and bake until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool on a rack 10 minutes, then unmold and cool completely.
• For the buttercream frosting: Beat the sugar, butter and salt with an electric mixer on medium speed in a large bowl until incorporated. Add the vanilla, increase the speed to medium high and mix until smooth. Mix in enough milk to make it spreadable. Reserve 1/2 cup frosting in a piping bag fitted with a round tip. Mix food coloring into the remaining frosting to desired color.
• For the decorations: Cut off the domed tops of the cake rounds with a serrated knife so they are completely flat (save the trimmings for another use). Using a paring knife or 5-inch round cutter, cut a 5-inch circle from the center of one cake round, making sure to keep the outer ring intact (this will be the rim of the mug). Trim the cutout circle to a thickness of 1 inch, then use a paring knife to cut out a handle that is about 4 inches long and 2 inches wide. While you assemble the cake, freeze the handle on a small plate until very firm (this will make it easier to frost).
• Place a cake round cut-side up on a cake stand or serving platter. Spread with a thin layer of frosting almost to the edge. Top with another cake round and spread with a thin layer of frosting. Repeat with a third round. Top with the cake ring. Frost the entire cake with a thin layer of frosting to make a crumb coat (you don't need to frost the inside of the ring). Spread a thin layer of frosting on the handle. Freeze the cake and handle until the frosting is set and the handle is firm, about 30 minutes.
• Frost the cake--excluding the center cutout on the top--with more frosting. Smooth the sides and rim with an offset spatula. Frost the handle.
• Hold the handle gently against the cake and insert two to four 4-inch skewers to attach it. Smooth over any smudges in the frosting on the handle. Pipe a stripe of the reserved white frosting around the top and bottom of the mug (or wrap with strips of sour candy rope).
• When ready to serve, fill the cavity at the top of the cake with the pudding and spread flat to the rim with an offset spatula. Just before serving, top with whipped cream, leaving a rim of pudding showing.

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat an 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet or jelly roll pan with cooking spray; line the bottom with parchment paper and spray the parchment. Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar with a mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, 3 minutes. Gradually beat in 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Increase the speed to medium high; beat until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Whisk the egg yolks with the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the oil, milk, vanilla and espresso powder in a large bowl. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl; whisk into the yolk mixture until smooth. Stir one-third of the egg whites into the batter with a rubber spatula, then gently fold in the remaining whites in two batches. Spread the batter in the prepared pan; bake until the cake springs back when gently pressed, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes.
• Generously sift cocoa powder over the top of the warm cake and loosen the edges with a knife; lay a clean kitchen towel (not terry cloth) over the cake. Place another baking sheet over the towel and flip the cake with the baking sheets to invert it onto the towel. Remove the top baking sheet and parchment, then dust the cake with cocoa powder. Starting at a short end, roll up the cake and the towel together into a spiral. Transfer seam-side down to a rack and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Beat the butter and salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until creamy, 2 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups marshmallow cream and the vanilla; increase the speed to medium high and beat until fluffy, 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low. Beat in the confectioners' sugar, then the milk, then increase the speed to medium and beat until thick and spreadable.
• Gently unroll the cake. Spread the filling over the cake about 1/4 inch from the edges; reroll (without the towel). Trim the ends with a serrated knife, then transfer to a rack set on a baking sheet.
• Make the glaze: Microwave the chocolate with the heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth. Pour over the cake; spread to coat. Transfer to a platter and refrigerate 15 minutes.
• Microwave the remaining 1/4 cup marshmallow cream in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 5 seconds, until loose. Drizzle over the cake.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Using a spoon, make 3 wells in the dry ingredients. Pour oil into the first, vinegar into another and vanilla into the third. Slowly pour water over all. Beat on low speed until thoroughly combined (batter will be thin). , Pour into a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

Steps:

• Combine in saucepan cocoa, butter, oil, and water.
• Bring to a boil, stirring; let cool.
• Combine sugar and flour in a large bowl.
• Pour cocoa mixture, when cooled, over flour and sugar; and beat until smooth.
• Combine buttermilk, eggs, soda, cinnamon and vanilla; then beat into above mixture.
• Grease and flour a 13x9 inch pan; bake at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
• Frosting: Start 10 minutes before baking is done.
• Combine frosting ingredients except for confectioner's sugar in a bowl, mix.
• Add confectioner's sugar; stir well, then beat until thick.
• Spoon frosting over hot cake.
• Top with nuts if desired.

Steps:

• Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.