Monday, February 1, 2010

Self-Frosting Chocolate Cake - Blue Monday



Two ways to have fun.



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...If you're looking for a dessert to serve on Valentine's Day, you might want to try this self-frosting chocolate cake. It's really easy to do and can be made as one large, or eight smaller, portion controlled, cakes. I always opt for the latter. It helps prevent me from overeating, which I have, on occasion, been known to do. The cake can be made a day before serving as long as you follow the directions for reheating that are in the recipe. If you decide to make this, be sure to use the finest bittersweet chocolate and raspberry jam available to you. This is one of those recipes where quality really pays off. If you like ease of preparation, the taste of bittersweet chocolate and raspberries, you'll love this treat. Just remember this is a dessert that should be served warm, and that means the cakes, large or small, can't be unmolded until you are ready to serve them. If you carefully follow the recipe instructions and say a prayer or two or three, you'll have no problems. I make these for family and good friends. I have, over the years, become a very relaxed hostess. If you do a great deal of formal entertaining, I have a caution for you. While these are luscious, they are probably too homely for a more formal dinner party. Here's the recipe.

Self-Frosting Chocolate Cake...from the kitchen of One perfect Bite, inspired by Epicurious.com

Ingredients:
Frosting
3 ounces fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened)
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam (about 5 ounce)
1/2 cup heavy cream
Cake Batter
1/2 cup boiling water
1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa
powder (not Dutch process)
1/4 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam (about 3 1/2 ounce)
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pint raspberries (for garnish)

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter a 9 x 2-inch round cake pan or 8 (8-oz.) custard cups. Set aside.
2) To make frosting: Break chocolate into small pieces. Place in a small saucepan with raspberry jam and cream. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until smooth. If making one large cake, pour mixture into prepared pan. If making individual cakes, pour an equal portion of mixture into each custard cup. Set aside.
3) To make cake batter: Whisk boiling water and cocoa powder together until smooth. Whisk in milk, vanilla extract and jam. Place butter and both sugars in a large bowl Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift flour, baking soda and salt into another bowl. Add to egg mixture in batches alternately with cocoa mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat well after each addition. Pour an equal portion of batter over frosting. If making one large cake, bake in center of oven for 30 to 35 minutes. If making individual cakes, bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Use a cake tester to check for doneness. Remember frosting will still be liquid. Transfer pan or custard cups to a wire rack. Let cool for 10 to 20 minutes. Cake may be made 1 day ahead, cooled completely in pan and left in pan, covered, at room temperature. Reheat cake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes.
4) To unmold: Run a thin knife around edge of pan and twist pan gently back and forth on a flat surface to loosen cake. Invert a cake plate with a slight lip over cake pan and holding pan and plate together with both hands, invert cake onto plate. Serve cake garnished with raspberries if desired. Yield: 8 servings

This post is being linked to:
Smiling Sally - Blue Monday

45 comments :

Regina said...

How cute. Love the cake my fab. Yummy!
Thanks again Mary for sharing.
Have a nice week.

♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ said...

This is indeed something id love at valentines...it'll be lovely to use my calleabut callets...only will sub milk for dark chocolate...

Federica Simoni said...

che meraviglia deliziosa!

Bits said...

She is so lovely, so do the chocolate cake!

Coleens Recipes said...

What a perfect Valentines day treat!! I just love the little statue of the tyke in high heels...so cute with the beautiful baby dancing.

Allie and Pattie said...

Thank you SO much! Many years ago (good grief! Am I that old??!) I had a very similar recipe which somehow got lost in one of our moves. You've reminded me of how good it was and replaced it. My family will be thrilled! Thanks for a YUMMY post
xoxo Pattie

My Little Space said...

Cute photo! And the cake sounds delish... yummm....

Martha said...

What a yummy cake! I, too, would prefer the individuals. Lovely photo --

Catherine said...

That cake looks utterly sublime mmmmm! And what an adorable picture of the little girl in heels awww :)

black eyed susans kitchen said...

The cake looks to be a wonderful holiday treat! The baby is just adorable.
♥, Susan

Zurin said...

aawwwww that is so adorable! n the cake tooo!!

SmilingSally said...

I loved seeing The Dance. Happy Blue Monday.

George Gaston said...

Mary, your cakes are spectacular! I would serve them for any occasion, because of their ease and their luxurious look.

The photograph is priceless... move over "Dancing with the Stars" there is a cutie that has all the right moves...

The Chef In My Head said...

Precious picture with the dancing babies! I have been sick as a dog and look forward to going back over the last week to see everything I have missed on your blog! ~LeslieMichele

Chubskulit Rose said...

I love your BM entry, so cute.

Fun in Reading

Mary Bergfeld said...

Colleen, isn't she darling. When I found the photo I knew it was meant to be shared. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Peggy Clyde said...

What a unique recipe. I will be trying it. Thanks.

Mary Bergfeld said...

Susan, the cake is really lovely. I'm so glad you enjoyed the baby. Unfortunately, she does not belong to me or mine :-). I found the photo on the web and knew it was meant to be shared.

Cathy said...

Your chocolate cake is beautiful, Mary, and perfect for Valentine's Day. Love the chocolate - raspberry combination.

What an adorable photo.

Maria said...

The cake looks amazing, but the other photo is darling:)

susan said...

I ve always been taught it's what's inside that counts..that goes for people and dessert. This looks wonderful, so I would probably just eat two! Hope the shoulder is better!

Pie said...

Your chocolate is so tempting. And your daughter is adorable!

My Blue Monday

Katy ~ said...

I don't have high brow company at my house so wouldn't hesitate for one minute to serve it to those who might be sharing my table, grins. This would be special!

Marice said...

oh my! she is sooo cute! i heart that last photo :) and that choco cake is mouthwatering!

u may view mine here

Apples and Butter said...

Love thee self-frosting idea! I don't think I'll be baking this Valentine's Day, but I'll file the recipe away for another time.

Pam said...

I love that picture - she is so cute. The cakes look really cute and delicious too! You can't beat chocolate cake.

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Mary, what a darling child. Your self-frosting cake is gorgeous. Great idea for Valentines.
Sam

Kristina said...

Oh that's a yummy recipe! I'll definitely give it a try.

That little cherub dancing with the broze one is too precious!

NKP said...

Delicious!
And I love that photo - so cute!

noble pig said...

Love the idea of self...anything...we only have so many hands...beautiful!

Old Time Cindy said...

I love chocolate! And your picture of the 'little dancers' made me laugh.
Cindy at Lakewood

Chef Aimee said...

Oh boy did this recipe and post cheer me up on a Monday! MMMM!

Kathleen said...

This sounds delicious and I think will be great for Valentines day!

Cindy said...

Super wonderful post! The dessert has my favorite combo of chocolate and raspberries. I am going to attempt this, for sure! And, the little girl dancing with the statue is just really precious.

Cindy :)

KathyB. said...

This does look and sound like a delicious Valentine dessert to serve. I like the idea of smaller cakes, with only 2 of us in the house that makes so much more sense for us and our waistlines, although if it is as good as it looks there is every reason to believe I could just as easily go back for the other cakes as cut a bigger slice.( self-control ,Kathy)

La Bella Cooks said...

Raspberry and chocolate are a perfect combo and these would fit the bill nicely for Valentines.

Juliana said...

What a nice cake for Valentines...looks absolutely delicious, creamy and very rich :-)

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

one of the cutest pictures I have seen in a long time....

Deb in Hawaii said...

It looks nice, gooey & delicious. ;-)

jeanne said...

Hi Mary, how is your shoulder doing? I have not visited and now I must see what I have missed. I could serve this delicious dessert with my chocolate raspberry coffee. A great combo.

Your photo of the little girl with the statue is darling. A real treasure.

Hugs, Jeanne

Gail said...

Making my PS rounds, (I know it is Tuesday, better late then never, LOL). OMGosh, the recipes look wonderful and I WILL be trying the self frosting cake and the raspberry strudel muffins (is that right?)to start. I will be visiting often. All I can say is YUMMMMMM.
BTW, the little girl is so very darling, dancing there. To sweet.

Jamie said...

That photo is adorable! And the cake? Wow! For chocolate lovers!

Lori said...

OMG Mary- how sweet is she! That is such a darling picture.

christine said...

Hello! I found this blog in Foodista and followed it here. This is a lovely blog and awesome Self-Frosting Chocolate Cake recipe. I'll take your caution into consideration. Thanks for sharing. By the way you can place more Foodista widget in your past and future blogs so that other Foodista readers can follow and see your blog too. Just search for a related recipe or food in Foodista and use its widget. I hope to read more from you. Cheers!

Andrea (Andreas Kitchen) said...

Mary, I just had to come see your blog after you left such a lovely comment on mine- thank you so much!
I am saving this recipe so I can try it soon!

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