October 16, 2007

We All Have Layers


Shrek: Ogres are like onions.


Donkey: They stink?


Shrek: Yes. No.


Donkey: Oh, they make you cry.


Shrek: No.


Donkey: Oh, you leave em out in the sun, they get all brown, start sproutin' little white hairs.


Shrek: NO. Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers.



Ah how I sympathize with Shrek… So many layers. You know what else has layers? This Chocolate Applesauce cake. Andrew of Spittoon Extra is hosting this month’s edition of Waiter, There’s Something in My… and he’s chosen layer cake as the theme. I like layer cakes, the more the better. My problem is with slicing them; I always slice on an angle and end up with wonky layers, they’re my specialty.



If you’re looking to make a moist chocolate layer cake, you’d do well with this one. All of the applesauce in the cake helps to keep it from drying out and creates an excellent crumb. While spreading the frosting between the layers I was worried I’d run out, so instead of filling the middle layer with frosting, I thinned out some apple butter and used it instead. I thought it added a lot to the cake and would definitely make it this way again.



Chocolate Applesauce Cake (from Food & Drink magazine, Autumn 2007)


Cake

½ cup vegetable oil

1 cup + ¾ cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3 large eggs, separated

2 ½ cups all purpose flour

½ cup regular cocoa powder, (not Dutch process)

1 ½ tsp baking soda

1 tsp fine salt

1 ½ cups unsweetened applesauce, (I made my own, it’s apple season, why not?)


Chocolate Frosting

½ cup unsalted butter

2 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped

½ cup regular cocoa powder, sifted

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups icing sugar, sifted, (I used much less than this)

2/3 cup sour cream, (not low fat)


Preheat oven to 350F.

Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans.

With electric beaters, blend oil, 1 cup sugar, vanilla and egg yolks on medium speed. In a separate bowl and with clean beaters, whip egg whites until foamy. Slowly add remaining ¾ cup sugar and continue whipping until whites hold a soft peak and set aside. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt and add to vegetable oil mixture alternately with applesauce on low speed, starting and finishing with dry ingredients. Fold in whipped whites and divide evenly between prepared pans, spreading to level. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a tester inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean. Let cakes cool completely in pans.

To make the frosting, melt butter and chocolate in microwave on medium, stirring every 10 seconds until smooth. Whisk in cocoa powder and vanilla. With electric beaters, incorporate 1 cup icing sugar, then add sour cream. Beat in remaining 1 cup icing sugar and increase speed, beating until frosting is a spreadable consistency.

To assemble, place 1 cake layer on a plate and slice in half horizontally. Spread a thin layer of frosting overtop of cake and then top with second half. Spread a thin layer of frosting overtop. Repeat with second cake layer, and spread remaining frosting overtop, then sides of cake. Chill until ready to serve.



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29 comments:

Elly said...

That is one beautiful looking layer cake! Sounds great, too!

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

Looks Oh my goodness rich and delish! Love apple butter, it would make a layer cake like this a joy.

K and S said...

I've never tried apple butter but it sounds great especially in this beauty of a cake!

eatme_delicious said...

Yum I love nice moist cakes. Such a cute apple design on the top. And the apple butter layer sounds really amazing even though I've never had apple butter...

Nabeela said...

My last comment just disappeared...sigh
Anyway, I was saying that the layer cake looks delicious. I'm too intimidated to try one though!

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

I'm always afraid of making layer cakes -- maybe it's the same as you, my layers are never even, or the same size, or pretty.... but I do like cakes made with applesauce. And chocolate.

Anonymous said...

What a lovely, moist-looking cake! I wish I had my cake pans with me so I could participate in this event, but alas, the most I can do is gawk at incredible cakes like yours... I suppose it could be worse, huh? ;)

Annie said...

It looks amazing! I love that you used applesauce(and homemade at that). I would probably feel better about eating a really big piece because I could justify it. ;)

Deborah said...

That was a great idea to add the apple butter!! Sounds like a great fall cake. And I always have a hard time slicing the layers evenly as well. I guess that's why I've been sticking with cupcakes lately!!

Kelly-Jane said...

Shrek is such fun!

Great cake and like your apple on top too.

Belinda said...

I can tell just by looking at this how moist it is...and so rich and chocolatey...your layers look really good. And so does the angle of the slice. :-) I know exactly what you mean about slicing into a layer cake...it terrifies me, and I always start off with some odd shaped wedge which inevitably ruins any chance of ANY of the slices turning out properly.

Cheryl said...

I think a layer cake is such a classic when baking. You always do it so well.

Anonymous said...

Yes, we all have layers...but I like those layers of chocolate cake the best!

Anonymous said...

LOL I LOVE SHREK!!! Nice way to start out the entry. :-)

Anita said...

Haha, I love that part from Shrek!! How about a parfait? Your layer cake looks picture perfect and sounds so scrumptious!

Megan said...

Lovely layer cake. Love the applebutter idea!

Gigi said...

Your cake looks amazing and so moist. I loved the apple detail on top!

Anonymous said...

It sounds and looks delicious. In fact, I want some now :)

Helene said...

I et the apple butter makes the cake extra moist and chock full of flavors! Great job!

Jenny said...

That's funny - that exact conversation was heard in my house this last weekend (though I can't for the life of me now remember why.)
Great way to sneak in some applesauce. :-)

Patricia Scarpin said...

I can slice all the cakes gladly, my dear friend - as long as I get 50% of them, we're fine. ;)

Nails...etcetera with Priscilla ! said...

I'm so gonna try making this cake..I love applesauce.
lovely cake U got there! *wink*

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous! I love the apple on top.

Mallow said...

I love your decoration! That cake sounds delicious.

Maggie said...

Your layer cake looks very professional and much better than anything we get here in some of our tea shops.

Kajal@aapplemint said...

how come i 've never eaten a chocolate applesauce cake. And especially since it looks so damn moist n rich and delicious. That is really one mean looking slice u have there. want one now :p

Anonymous said...

Everything about this cake makes me happy! Thanks for sharing.

Renee said...

Awww, with the cutest little apple picture, too ;).

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

That looks amazing, I don't think it would matter how you sliced it!