Chocolate Cake with Ganache Frosting + Video

What is it like?

- Super chocolaty

- Perfectly balanced with a hint of fruity cranberries

- Classy frosting which takes less than 5 minutes to make!

Note: The recipe below is for one layer of cake. If your’e feeling ambitious, you could slice the cake in half and fill it with ganache or jam (example above). Or, if you have made this style of cake before and have a very tall cake pan, you could bake two layers and then stack them. However, I recommend starting simple — You will be amazed to have made such a classy, homemade cake!

Recipe

This cake is moist and light. It’s bursting with chocolate flavor which is balanced by the fruitiness of the cranberries. In my book, it’s good for just about any occasion. And the frosting, with its classy look, could not be simpler.

Makes one 9-inch round cake or one 8 x 8 inch cake. This recipe can be used to make cupcakes or whoopee pies.

Dry
dry 1 cup flour mix, 130g
1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp cocoa powder, 32g (see note)
1 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 tsp psyllium husk powder or 1 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1/4 tsp sea salt

Wet
scant 3/4 cup sunflower oil or olive oil, 157g
1 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar, 263g
2 large eggs, 107g
1 1/4 cups cranberries, 125g
1/2 cup minus 1 tbsp water, 100g
2 tsp vanilla extract

Ganache Frosting:
510g / 17.9oz / 2 3/4 cups semisweet chocolate pieces or chocolate chips
510g / 17.9oz cream OR for dairy free: 370g / 13 oz coconut milk (see note)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F / 175C. Grease a 9-inch (23 cm) cake tin with oil (one that is at least 2 inches or 5 cm tall). Use a cake tin with removable sides. If you do not have one, you can just use a regular cake pan, but you will need to serve the cake from that dish since it will not be easy to remove.

2. Add the fresh (or frozen and thawed) cranberries to your food processor and pulse (or chop by hand) until they are roughly chopped and the size of the pieces vary (see video). Do not puree. If all of the cranberries are too small, the flavor will not come through in the cake. Set aside.

3. In a medium sized bowl whisk together the dry ingredients. Sift your baking soda and cocoa if there are any lumps.

4. In a large bowl whisk together the wet ingredients, adding the cranberries last.

5. Add one third of the flour mixture to the wet mixture. Give it a couple of folds with a spatula before adding half of the remaining flour. Give the batter a few more turns before adding the remaining flour. Stir just until the flour is incorporated. Do not worry if there are a few lumps.

6. Pour the batter into the cake tin and bake for about 30 minutes or just until a knife inserted into the middle of the cake comes out with a few crumbs attached. Allow to cool completely in the tin.

7. Once the cake is cool, make the ganache. Combine the chocolate pieces and coconut cream. Warm in a pan over low heat (stirring continuously) or in 30-second increments in the microwave, stirring thoroughly between heating. Heat just until the mixture is completely melted and smooth, and until it is fairly warm to the touch (see note).

8. Pour about two thirds of the mixture over the cake, reserving the rest for another use (see note). Allow the cake to set for a couple of hours before serving.

Optional:  Serve with whipped cream or whipped coconut cream. 

Notes:

• Dairy free: This cake is excellent dairy free. Surprisingly you cannot taste the coconut in the chocolate ganache. I used Thai Kitchen coconut milk, which worked well.

• Heating ganache: If your ganache isn’t warm enough it will not spread very well over the cake. In this recipe's video demonstration the ganache had actually cooled a little too much, leaving a few ripples on top of the cake (since the chocolate was so thick from being slightly cooled). So, if you want a very smooth top, you need to have a runnier/warmer ganache heated to 90F to 110F (32C to 38C). Also, be very gentle when you stir and pour the ganache so as not to incorporate air bubbles.

• Extra ganache: It is good to have extra ganache for two reasons. First, it is excellent with ice cream, made into chocolate milk, formed into truffles, or just enjoyed as-is. Secondly, if you are making this cake a day or two ahead (it is a great make-ahead cake because it stays moist) you can add an extra thin layer of ganache on top if needed. For instance, the first time I made this cake I stored it in the fridge. While this is not recommended since cold and ganache do not generally mix, I did it anyway. Despite, careful storing, some condensation formed on the top of the cake making the ganache look splotchy. So I just melted some of the leftover ganache (also stored in the fridge) and spread a thin layer over the top. It gave the cake a fresh shine, and because the ganache was a thin layer, it set within an hour.

Chocolate Ganache Tart with a Cranberry Swirl

What is it like?

- Rich & chocolaty

- Silky smooth

NOTE: the photo is a plain chocolate tart. The cranberry swirl is optional but delightful!

Recipe

Makes one 9-10 inch tart, prep 1 hour 20 minutes

The filling for this recipe was adapted from Mary Berry’s chocolate orange tart recipe. You may be familiar with her from the Great British Baking show. She is an amazing baker and I find her recipes so inspiring.

DAIRY FREE OPTION: You can replace the butter in this recipe with a dairy free substitute. I tested Miyoko’s, which I bought at Trader Joe’s, and it worked perfectly.

Chocolate filling
1/4 cup plus 1/2 tbsp butter, 76g
4 oz dark chocolate, 115g, finely chopped (around 63% works fabulously)
1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp organic cane sugar, 115g
1/3 cup flour blend, 45g
4 large eggs

Cranberry filling (optional)
1/2 stick butter, 52g
Scant 1/2 cup organic cane sugar, 50g (regular white sugar works fine too)
3 tbsp flour blend, 22g
1/3 cup fresh cranberries, 50g
zest of one large orange (or grapefruit for a different flavor!)
2 large egg yolks

Directions:

1. Start by following the tart shell recipe. Note that the tart should be blind baking (or already blind baked) when you begin making the filling. Preheat your oven to 400F / 200C.
   For the chocolate filling: Add the chocolate and butter to a heatproof bowl. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir until the chocolate is dissolved and the mixture is smooth. If you need to heat the chocolate more, do it in 20 second increments, stirring after heating.

2. Whisk together the flour and sugar and stir it into the chocolate mixture. Next, stir in one egg at a time, adding the next egg once the mixture is homogenous.

3. For the cranberry blend: heat the butter and cocoa butter in a heat proof bowl for 20 seconds. Stir until it is all melted and smooth. Next, stir in the sugar and then the flour.

4. Using a knife, mince the cranberries so that they are in small pieces. Next, microwave or heat the cranberries until they are hot, and their juices are beginning to release. Zest a grapefruit and add the zest to the cranberries. Stir in the melted butter, sugar, and flour. Then stir in the egg yolks.

5. Pour the chocolate filling into the tart pan. Next, pour or spoon the cranberry filling over the chocolate filling. Using a fork or skewer, move the cranberry filling around to form swirls. (It looks more beautiful after baking.)

6. Bake the tart just until the edge is set (about 1 1/2 inches or 4 centimeters) around the pan. When jostled, the large middle part of the tart should have a very generous wobble. Do not bake it past this point or it will be rubbery. Do not worry, the middle will set once it cools. Allow the tart to cool and then enjoy! Store in the fridge for up to four days.

Note:
You can use fresh cranberries or frozen and thawed cranberries.

Cinnamon-Chocolate Spiced Cake with Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream

What is it like?

-light

-gently spicy

-soft chocolaty buttercream

Recipe

Makes one 9-inch round cake or one 8 x 8 inch cake. This recipe can be used to make cupcakes or whoopee pies.

dry
1 1/2 cups (218g) flour mix
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp psyllium husk powder or 1 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tbsp (8g) cocoa powder
generous 1/4 tsp fine sea salt

wet
scant 3/4 cup (157g) sunflower oil
1 cup (250g) sugar
2 eggs (107g)
1/2 cup (125g) unsweetened apple sauce
1/2 cup (90g) water
2 tsp vanilla

filling
1/2 cup raspberry jam (if making a two-layered cake)

Swiss Meringue Buttercream Recipe

3 large egg whites
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup (113 g) butter or Earth Balance for vegan
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla, optional
1/2 cup chocolate chunks or chocolate chips, melted and cooled

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8x8 baking dish and line the bottom with parchment paper. If you’re doing so, make sure that your 8x8 baking dish is at least 1 1/2 inches tall. Or, for a layered cake, grease the sides of two 9-inch round cake pans with oil or butter. Cut two round parchment circles, and place them in the bottom of the pans for easy release.

2. In a large bowl whisk together the dry ingredients.

3. In a medium bowl whisk together the wet ingredients.

4. Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and whisk just until most of the lumps are gone. Pour the batter into your baking dish and bake for about 25 minutes or just until the middle springs back when pressed. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

5. For the buttercream: While the cake bakes, prepare the buttercream. In a large metal bowl (that will fit over a pan of simmering water) add the egg whites and sugar. Place the bowl over the simmering water and whisk until the sugar is dissolved and the temperature reaches about 150°F.

6. Using a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the egg whites on high until they are glossy and stiff peaks form, about 7 minutes. At this point, the mixture should be around room temperature.

7. Beat in the butter one tablespoon at a time. If the mixture separates, keep mixing until it comes back together. Beat in the vanilla, salt, and cooled melted chocolate. If you’re buttercream ends too runny to spread, just put it in the fridge to thicken while the cake cools. Using a spatula, place frosting in the middle of the top of the cake and gently frost it outward with the spatula trying to avoid picking up crumbs. Keep the cake in the fridge if it’s not ready to consume.

Fudgy Brownies

These brownies have everything you could want in a brownie: crispy crust and fudgy on the inside with one added bonus. Instead of being made with traditional flour they call for what many people believe to be a healthier, whole grain teff flour, which is available on Amazon or at Whole Foods (or many co-ops). I use Bob's Red Mill brand which works superbly. 

Recipe

Makes 16 brownies

1/2 cup sunflower oil (or 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp coconut oil)
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp cocoa powder (26 g)
1 cup organic cane sugar (210 g)
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup teff flour

optional
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips, optional
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped, optional

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an an 8 x 8 baking dish.

2. In a large bowls whisk together the oil, sugar and cocoa. If your ingredients (or the egg you’ll be adding are on the cold side, give the mixture a twenty second heat in the microwave until it is warm but not hot. You don’t want it to be so hot that it will cook the egg when you add it.)

3. Whisk in the egg and vanilla.

4. Add teff flour. Using a large spoon, stir vigorously for about 30 seconds. The dough may be thick and that is okay. Stir in walnuts and chocolate chips. Then pour or spoon the mixture into the baking dish. Leveling the top with the spoon.

5. Bake for about 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely before slicing. This ensure the brownies will hold together.

NOTE:
Cook time: If the brownies end up slightly "under-baked", and they have trouble holding together they will “dry” out some overnight and will be just perfect the next day. If you plan to serve them 12-24 hours ahead, this is ideal. This way they will taste fresh and deliciously fudgy, and don’t worry, as long as they puffed up all the way they are technically cooked, they just need more time to dry to lose any excess moisture.