Mexican Chocolate Cake With Dried Cranberries Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 12x18 inch pan.
• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda and cinnamon. Add the margarine, oil, water, sour milk, eggs and vanilla, mix until smooth. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350°F (175°C).
• Butter and flour a 12-cup (1.5-L) Bundt pan or 9-inch (22.5-cm) angel food cake pan. Melt the butter over moderately low heat, then whisk in cocoa.
• Add water and coffee and whisk until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Whisk in the sugar, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla.
• Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
• Add the cocoa mixture and whisk until just combined.
• Whisk in the cranberries.
• Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake cake until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean, 45 - 55 minutes.
• Cool the cake in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then loosen the edges with a thin knife and invert onto a plate.
• Let cool.
• For the glaze, bring the cream to a boil in a small pot.
• Remove from the heat and add the chocolate, stirring until smooth.
• Spoon the glaze over the top of the cake, letting it run down the sides.
• Keeps well for 3 days tightly wrapped. Freeze for longer storage.

Steps:

• Make the sugared cranberries: Bring 3/4 cup granulated sugar and 3/4 cup water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Put the cranberries in a large bowl and pour the sugar syrup over them; let sit 1 hour. Whisk the remaining 3/4 cup granulated sugar with the cardamom in a large bowl. Drain the cranberries, add to the spiced sugar and toss to coat. Spread the cranberries and sugar on a rimmed baking sheet. Let sit, rerolling the cranberries in the sugar occasionally until dry, 2 to 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Coat the parchment with cooking spray. Whisk the all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, allspice and cardamom in a large bowl; set aside. Put the cocoa powder in a separate large bowl. Heat 1 cup water in a small saucepan until almost simmering; pour over the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Set aside until slightly cooled, about 10 minutes.
• Add the eggs to the cocoa mixture and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until just combined. Add the granulated sugar, buttermilk, vegetable oil and vanilla; beat until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low; gradually add the flour mixture, then increase the speed to medium and beat until smooth, about 1 minute. Divide the batter evenly between the cake pans; lightly tap on the counter to remove any air bubbles. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 10 minutes in the pans, then invert the cakes onto the rack to cool completely. Remove the parchment. (The cake layers can be made 1 day ahead; let cool, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap.)
• Make the frosting: Beat the butter, confectioners' sugar and salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until just combined. Add the vanilla and almond extracts; increase the mixer speed to high and beat, scraping down the side of the bowl, until creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the milk and almond liqueur; beat until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 more minutes.
• Halve 1/2 cup of the sugared cranberries. Place one cake layer on a plate or cake stand. Spread with 1 cup frosting, then sprinkle with the halved cranberries. Top with the second cake layer. Cover the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Top with the remaining sugared cranberries.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350*F.
• Lightly coat an 8" round cake pan with vegetable cooking spray.
• Combine all cake ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir until smooth.
• Pour into a pan and bake 25 to 30 minutes (until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean).
• Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Remove from pan and cool completely.
• When the cake has cooled whisk together the first three glaze ingredients.
• Dip each strawberry into the glaze and set aside.
• Pour the remaining glaze over the cake and arrange the strawberries on top.
• Set aside to dry- about 30 minutes.