Silky Chocolate Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Spray bottoms and sides of 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat Cake ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour 1 2/3 cups batter in each pan. Spread evenly.
• Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In medium glass or metal bowl, beat egg whites and sugar with whisk until blended. Set over pan of simmering water 16 to 20 minutes, beating occasionally with whisk, until sugar has dissolved and egg mixture reaches 160°F. Remove from heat; pour into bowl of electric stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat on high speed 2 to 3 minutes or until glossy peaks form and bowl has cooled to feel slightly warm. Still on high speed, slowly add 1 1/2 cups softened butter, one piece at a time, scraping side of bowl occasionally, until mixture is smooth, thick and shiny, 12 to 14 minutes. Beat in vanilla. If mixture separates, beat until smooth.
• Fit decorating bag with 1/2-inch round piping tip; fill with 1 1/4 cups vanilla frosting, and set aside.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave 2 oz chopped chocolate uncovered on High 60 seconds, stirring halfway through microwave time. Continue to microwave in 10-second increments until chocolate can be stirred smooth. Let stand 10 minutes. Beat cooled melted chocolate into remaining frosting until smooth.
• Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread 2/3 cup chocolate frosting on top. Top with second cake layer; spread 2/3 cup chocolate frosting on top. Place third cake layer on top. Frost side and top of cake with remaining chocolate frosting. Using decorating bag, pipe frosting mounds on top of cake with vanilla frosting (use photo as guide).
• Sprinkle 1 tablespoon chocolate shavings over frosting mounds. Refrigerate 1 hour. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Line unpricked crust with a double thickness of foil. Fill with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice., Bake at 400° for 20 minutes. Remove foil and weights; bake 10-12 minutes longer or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack., In a heavy saucepan, mix sugar and cornstarch. Whisk in cream. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Remove from the heat. In a small bowl, whisk a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to the pan, whisking constantly. Cook and stir over low heat 1 minute longer. Remove from the heat; stir in the chocolate, Cognac and vanilla until chocolate is melted. , Transfer to a clean bowl; press waxed paper onto surface of filling. Cool filling to room temperature. Spoon into crust. Refrigerate, covered, until cold, about 4 hours., For topping, in a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add Cognac and confectioners' sugar; beat until soft peaks form. Spread over pie. Dust lightly with cocoa.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the bottom of a 9-inch round springform pan upside-down (concave side down); secure sides of pan. Butter pan, line sides of pan with a long strip of waxed or parchment paper, and butter paper. Wrap bottom of pan securely in aluminum foil. Bring a kettle of water to a boil.
• In a large heatproof bowl set over, not in, a pan of simmering water, melt chocolate; cool to room temperature.
• Using an electric mixer on high, beat eggs, sugar, salt, and rum until thick and foamy and batter holds a trail, about 3 minutes.
• Stir half of the egg mixture into cooled chocolate to lighten it. Fold in remaining egg mixture and whipped cream. Spoon batter into prepared pan and smooth top.
• Place pan in a roasting pan and pour hot water to come halfway up the sides of the pan. Bake until set and firm to the touch, 30 to 35 minutes. (It will look like a cheesecake.) Transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until well chilled, about 3 hours.
• To serve: Release sides of springform and, using a knife dipped in warm water, cut into thin slices.