And All That Could Have Been, (This Cake Is It)

This cake is worthy of an upcoming birthday celebration but you shouldn’t wait for one to give it a try. It could easily be labeled a show stopper as it’s a beautiful combo of chocolate, salted caramel and more chocolate, coated with roasted almonds. But what’s most important about this cake is that it can back up its good looks with even better taste. There’s no uncertainty here as is often the case with so many other things. You see this cake and you know it’s good. It tells it like it is and sometimes you need cakes, (and people) to do that for you. Otherwise you’re left wondering if things are as they appear to be And All That Could Have Been.

There’s no wondering with a recipe for Chocolate Cake with Fleur de Sel Caramel Filling from Vanilla Bake Shop because although it requires a number of steps to assemble, I assure you that it’s one delicious step after another. I found the caramel filling particularly intriguing as the addition of crème fraîche or sour cream gives it a noticeable tang. And you can’t go wrong with a ganache that requires only cream and chocolate so long as you use your favourite chocolate. The ganache is also easy to spread and roasted almonds help to hide flaws if your icing skills aren’t quite where you’d like them to be. Layer cakes always seem impressive but this one is especially so, could you honestly ask for anything other than a fork?

Chocolate Cake with Fleur de Sel Caramel Filling (From Bon Appetit)

CARAMEL FILLING

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, diced

1/4 cup crème fraîche or sour cream

1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Large pinch of fine fleur de sel* plus additional for assembly

GANACHE FILLING AND FROSTING

1 1/2 pounds bittersweet chocolate, chopped

3 cups heavy whipping cream

CAKE

2 cups sugar

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup whole milk

2 large eggs

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

1 cup hot water

1 tablespoon instant espresso powder or instant coffee

1 1/4 cups almonds, toasted, coarsely chopped

CARAMEL FILLING

Stir sugar, 1/4 cup water, and corn syrup in deep medium saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium; cover pan and cook 4 minutes. Uncover; increase heat to high. Boil without stirring until syrup is deep amber, occasionally brushing down pan sides with wet pastry brush, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Add cream (mixture will bubble). Whisk in butter, then crème fraîche, lemon juice, and pinch of fleur de sel. Cool completely. DO AHEAD Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.

GANACHE FILLING AND FROSTING

Place chocolate in large bowl. Bring cream to simmer in medium saucepan. Pour cream over chocolate; let soften 1 minute. Whisk until chocolate is smooth. Cool, then cover and chill overnight. DO AHEAD Ganache can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled. Bring to room temperature before using.

CAKE

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line bottom of each with parchment paper; butter paper and dust pan with flour.

Sift sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into large bowl. Add milk, eggs, and melted butter. Using electric mixer, beat at low speed until blended. Increase speed and beat 2 minutes. Stir 1 cup hot water and espresso powder in small bowl to dissolve. Add to batter; beat until blended (batter will be thin). Divide batter between pans (about 3 cups each).

Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 32 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 10 minutes. Cut around cakes; turn out onto racks. Peel off parchment and cool completely.

Using long serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half. Place 1 layer on platter; spread with 1/2 cup room-temperature ganache. Spoon 3/4 cup ganache into pastry bag fitted with 1/4-inch plain round tip. Pipe ring of ganache around edge of layer. Spread 1/4 cup room-temperature caramel filling evenly inside ring. Sprinkle caramel with large pinch of fleur de sel, then 1 tablespoon almonds. Top with second cake layer, ganache, ganache ring, caramel filling, fleur de sel, and almonds. Repeat with third cake layer. Top with fourth cake layer, cut side down. Spread remaining ganache over top and sides of cake. Press remaining almonds onto sides. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover with cake dome and chill. Let cake stand at room temperature 1 hour.

*A type of sea salt; available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores.

Technorati Tags:

Chocolate + Caramel + Cake + Bon Appetit + Fleur de Sel