Raspberry Coconut Chocolate Cake With Marbled Fondant Recipes

Steps:

• Prepare cake batter according to package directions; fold in 2/3 cup coconut. Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , In a microwave, melt white chocolate and cream at 70% power for 1 minute; stir. Microwave at additional 10- to 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth.Cool to room temperature. , In a small bowl, combine jam and 1 cup coconut. Spread over one cake layer; top with second layer. , In a small bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth. gradually beat in white chocolate mixture. Spread over top and sides of cake. Toast remaining coconut; press over top and sides of cake.

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 - 9″ round cake pans with baking spray. Combine the cake flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Sift these ingredients 3 times. In a mixing bowl, cream butter thoroughly; add sugar gradually. Continue creaming until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks and beat well. Add flour mixture alternately with the milk, beating well after each addition. Stir in coconut and vanilla. Fold in egg whites gently until well combined. Pour batter into three 8" cake pans or two 9" cake pans. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake. If you used 9" cake pans, slice the layers in half to make a 4 layer cake. Raspberry Preserves (at least 1 cup) *choose a good quality Frosting Directions: In a saucepan, use a whisk to blend 1 cup milk into 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat, and cook and stir two minutes more. Remove from heat. Cover the surface with plastic wrap. Cool to room temperature without stirring. In a medium mixing bowl, beat butter, sugar, and extracts until light and fluffy. Add cooled milk mixture to butter mixture a quarter cup at a time, beating on low-speed after each addition until smooth. Add powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well afterward. Beat until mixture is light and fluffy. Add more powdered sugar if necessary to desired thickness. Slice each layer in half. Spread a thin layer of preserves* between the sliced layers. Alternate preserves and frosting between the layers then frost the top and sides of the cake. Sprinkle coconut on top and sides of the frosted cake. Slice and serve! *Note, on the layers that I placed the preserves, I also added a thin layer of coconut.

Steps:

• Tip: Rolled fondant is versatile. It can be tinted, flavored, modeled, formed, twisted, imprinted, and shaped into numerous of decorative pieces.
• Tip: Before applying fondant, a "sticky" surface should be applied to the cake which will help the fondant adhere to it. Many spread a thin layer of buttercream before laying out the fondant.
• Tip: When using rolled fondant to make decorations from, roll it to 1/4-inch thick. Either place them flat on greased (use shortening) wax paper or over forms to dry for 24 to 36 hours. Use royal icing to adhere fondant pieces to a rolled fondant iced cake and for the fine decorating commonly used on wedding cakes.
• Tip: The cake to be covered with rolled fondant must be cooled completely, preferably 24 hours, covered. This will tighten the crumbs and make the cake more solid.
• Tip: How far ahead you cover your cake with fondant will depend on the type of cake, filling, icing, etc. you use. With a basic butter cake, the fondant covering should be done no more than 2 to 3 days in advance of decorating and serving. A cake only remains fresh that long anyway and because fondant is sugar based, it's also how long it can stand without breaking down from the moisture in the cake. If you're using a layer cake and/or perishable fillings or icings, then you need to do everything just a day or two before the event.
• Tip: Fondant dries quickly, so while working with it, always keep excess well-wrapped in plastic, as well as the parts on the cake you are not working on.
• Tip: Once wrapped, unrolled fondant keeps for 1 to 2 months at room temperature. Do not refrigerate or freeze. If it gets too hard, put it in the microwave for a few seconds to soften; it will be easier to knead.
• Tip: To smooth out the fondant once it is put on the cake, use cornstarch on your hands to smooth out the fondant.
• Tip: If tiny cracks appear in the surface of the fondant, knead it a little - the warmth from the kneading or pressure from the rolling pin will make it smooth and satiny. Do not use water to smooth out cracks - water dissolves fondant as it is mostly sugar. Instead, use a bit of shortening on your fingertips to repair small tears.
• Add a few drops of vodka, lemon extract or clear vanilla extract. Use a small clean paintbrush to mix the liquid with the dust. Proceed to paint and decorate.
• Tip: Cracking can also be caused if your fondant is rolled too thick. Fondant is heavy and if not rolled thin enough (1/4-inch thick is usually best) the excess can pull the fondant from the top of the cake causing it to crack.
• Tip: To cover a crack, try rubbing a little of the same Fondant over the crack in a circular motion, then using a smother or your hands to rub it in.
• Tip: If fondant pleats at the bottom, gently unpleat and smooth out with the palms of your hands. With the palms of your hands, rub slightly up on sides to form an even top edge.
• Tip: Try to work with fondant in a cool room and on a cool surface. A warm room may make the fondant too soft and difficult to work with.
• Luster Dust Tips
• Tip: Luster dust gives colors a high sheen metallic-like finish. It can be used either alone or mixed with similar colored matte dusts to create a lustrous sheen, without lightening the color. They can also be used on gum paste, royal icing or any frosting recipe that dries hard and is firm to the touch. It is non toxic.
• Tip: Luster dusts can be incorporated into buttercreams to add shimmer cake decorations.
• Tip: When using luster dust, use an airbrush, blush brush or a small artist paintbrush to apply.
• Tip: Because luster dust is not water soluble, never mix them together to make paint colors. Instead use white spirits like vodka, gin, clear vanilla extract or lemon extract - the dust will absorb into these liquids and result in a more intense color. They also dry faster.
• How To Use:
• Use a bowl, mix a small amount of the dusting powder with a clear spirit.
• Luster dust comes in small, 2-gram, tubs. Carefully open the cap and, without breathing, put about 1/4 teaspoon into a very small cup.

Steps:

• Chocolate Layer Cake In a large bowl beat margarine at medium speed until creamy.
• Gradually add sugar and beat until fluffy.
• Add egg whites and whole egg one at a time and mix well.
• In a separate container combine buttermilk and water.
• In a small bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder, stir to mix.
• With mixer at medium speed add flour mixture alternating with buttermilk/water to the margarine mixture.
• Add vanilla extract and mix in well.
• Lightly coat 2 8-inch cake pans with vegetable spray and pour batter evenly into both pans.
• Bake at 350F for 22-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool in wire rack 10 minutes.
• Remove from pans and continue to cool.
• Raspberry Coconut Filling Empty jar of raspberry preserves in a medium meshed strainer.
• Using the back of a spoon press out the"jelly" and retain the seeds.
• Mix the"jelly" with the coconut, coconut extract, and orange rind.
• Add about 1-2 T of the seeds back into the jelly mixture.
• (this is optional if you don't care for seeds).
• When cake is completely cooled spread a layer of the filling just to about 1/2" from the cakes edge.
• Set aside remaining filling.
• Sprinkle a layer of coconut flakes on top of the filling.
• Add top layer of cake.
• Frosting (Use a large double boiler as this recipe makes 4 cups) Fill the bottom of the double boiler with water and set to boil.
• Combine the first 4 ingredients in the TOP of the double boiler.
• Beat with an electric hand mixer at medium speed just to blend ingredients.
• Place top over boiling water and beat constantly at high speed for about 9 minutes, or until stiff peaks form.
• Remove from heat.
• Add vanilla and coconut extracts and mix for 1 additional minute.
• It should be at a spreading consistency now, if not continue to beat.
• Spread over top of cake and lightly sprinkle with coconut flakes (lightly toasted is nice also).
• Mix enough of the coconut flakes with the remaining filling so that you can press to"stick" it to the side of cake.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the sugar, milk, coffee, oil, eggs and vanilla until well blended. In a small bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, coffee granules, baking soda, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into sugar mixture until blended., Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. baking pans. Bake at 325° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For filling, in a large bowl, beat butter and confectioners' sugar. Add jam; beat until blended., For frosting, melt chocolate in a microwave; stir until smooth. In a large bowl, beat butter and chocolate until fluffy. Add marshmallow creme, confectioners' sugar and extract; beat until smooth., Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with filling. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread frosting over top and sides of cake. Garnish with raspberries and chocolate curls. Store in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line two round 20cm springform cake tins with baking parchment. Whisk the oil, sugar, eggs and milk in a bowl until smooth. Sieve the flour, cocoa and bicarb into another large bowl, then gradually mix in the wet ingredients.
• Divide the mixture between the tins and bake for 35-40 mins until the cakes are risen and spring back when pressed. Leave to cool in the tins for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• For the raspberry layer, stir the jam and the defrosted raspberries together. Once the cakes are cool, whip the cream with the sugar to soft peaks, then gently fold half the raspberry mixture through the cream to create a ripple effect.
• Spoon most of the reserved raspberry mixture over one of the cakes, then dollop on half of the cream. Smooth over with a palette knife, then place the other sponge on top. Swirl over the remaining cream and swirl the last of the raspberry mixture through it. Will keep in the fridge for two days.

Steps:

• Beat margarine, sugar, and vanilla until frothy. Add eggs one at a time.
• With a wooden spoon, incorporate flour and baking powder alternating with the buttermilk.
• Mash raspberries through a sieve, collecting the juices. Throw away seeds.
• Divide dough in three different bowls. Mix in food colouring to one of the bowls. Mix cocoa with milk and add to another bowl. You should now have a bowl of each plain, pink, and brown dough.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Using a tablespoon alternate colours, dropping them by the spoonful on the bottom of a spring-form pan. Pour raspberry coulis into the joints where the colours meet. With a fine stick or knife "stir" minimally to give a marbled effect.
• Bake 1 hour. Wait 5 minutes before turning over on a wire rack to cool.