We made this cake in many variations, as you can see in the pictures below. Yes, they are all the same cake (but we made this more than once actually).The first time we made it we divided the batch into some cup cakes and a fluted cake tin. We then put coffee flavored cream cheese frosting on the cupcakes. But it wasnt too popular with our 'guinea pigs'; although the cakes looked quite pretty.
We made the cake again and this time we smother (yes, we smothered) the cake with chocolate ganache; a recipe I found on the internet (now you are talking chocolate, baby!) I highly recommend this if you want to win some boys' hearts. You'll need :
2 cups all purpose flour
1 ¾ cups sugar (or less)
¾ cup cocoa
1 ¼ cups milk
¾ cup shortening
3 eggs
1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ baking powder
Chocolate buttons / pieces (optional)
1. Measure all ingredients into the mixing bowl
2. With mixer at low speed, beat until well mixed
3. Spoon mixture into lined muffin pan, half full (for extra chocolate-y taste I put in a little mixture in the pan, put in a chocolate button - or two - then top with more mixture)
4. Bake for 15 minutes or until tooth pick inserted into the cupcake comes out clean
You can eat the cupcakes as is, or you can dribble/ smother it with chocolate sauce. For the ganache, here's how :
8 oz chocolate (use any chocolate that you like, or cooking chocolate)
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoon butter
1. Place the chocolate in a big bowl.
2. Put the cream and butter in a small saucepan. Heat over low fire until almost boiling.
3. Pour heated cream over the chocolate in the bowl.
4. Wait 3 minutes or so then mix with a whisk until well mixed.
You can decorate your cupcake with the ganache or pour it over the cake like a sauce. I also put fun things on the cup cakes..
A last word though, this is not something you want to try if you are watching calories.
ps : My boys also dunk fruits into the ganache (I am always left speechless at their antics..) They tell me I should make some ice-cream, then we can have banana split at home. I think we can also dunk cookies in there, but I wont tell them that.
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