Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Three tier chocolate cake

Three tier chocolate cake

Wow, I haven’t been here for a while - Happy New Year, everyone!

I haven’t visited your blogs either – I had a few days off from work and took a short break from the computer; I organized many things at home and also did a sort of “summer cleaning”. And because of that – and also the 33-35ºC (92-95ºF) days were were having here in Sao Paulo – I didn’t cook much. But I did bake a birthday cake for Joao on Dec, 27.

I got the recipe from the Woman&Home Christmas Food Valentina sent me – the cake was on the cover of the magazine and it looked so beautiful… I really wanted to try it. His birthday was the perfect excuse – everyone in this family ate the cake, so I spread the calories around. :)

I decided to use a different filling and went for a refreshing passion fruit truffle filling, made with white chocolate. You can use the original filling if you want.

We were in a hurry and the photos don’t do this cake justice – it is absolutely wonderful. I highly recommend it!

Three tier chocolate cake

Three tier chocolate cake

Cake:
6 large eggs
175g (6oz) caster sugar
185g (6.5oz) plain flour
15g (0.5oz) cocoa powder

Filling:
500g white chocolate, finely chopped
400g whipping cream
¼ cup (60ml) concentrated bottled passion fruit juice

To brush the cake:
½ tablespoon concentrated bottled passion fruit juice diluted in 4 tablespoons water

Ganache:
175g (6oz) dark chocolate, 55% solids
130ml (4.5oz) double cream - I used a thick kind of cream we have here in Brazil, so my ganache was not so spreadable

Decoration:
chocolate curls, cherries or whatever strikes you fancy

Start by making the filling: place the cream in a saucepan and heat until it is nearly boiling. Remove from heat and add the chocolate all at once. Whisk until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is silky and smooth. Add the juice, mix well; refrigerate it, well covered, for 4-6 hours or until set.

Make the cake: preheat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF. Oil a 25cm (10in) springform cake pan and line the bottom with baking paper.
Put the eggs and sugar into a large heatproof bowl and, using an electric hand whisk, beat until tripled in volume, pale and thick (I used my Kitchen Aid, with the whisk attachment). The whisk should leave a trail in the mix. Sift in the flour and cocoa powder and fold in with the whisk. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake on the centre shelf for around 20 minutes, until risen and springy to the touch. Let the cake cool in the tin, then turn out onto a wire rack.

When the cake is cool, split into three horizontally. Separate them carefully. The top of the original cake in the tin will be the top of the finished cake. Brush the bottom cake very lightly with the juice then spread over half the filling. Add the next layer and do the same with the juice and filling. Add the top.

Finish with the ganache: put the broken-up chocolate into a saucepan with the cream and heat gently. Stir well until the chocolate has melted. Spoon on to the centre of the cake a big spoonful at a time then spread with a palette knife, letting it drip down the sides. Do this at a reasonable speed as it will set in around 15 minutes.
Decorate as you like.

Serves 12-14

Three tier chocolate cake

59 comments:

  1. Happy new year Patricia! Are you kidding? Justice schmustice, that cake is fantastic! Cocoa genoise imbibed passionfruit juice, with white chocolate-passionfruit ganache filling and dark chocolate ganache topping sounds soo decadent. The cherries are a nice touch too :) (and they look much better than passionfruit pulp, haha :)

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  2. Happy New Year! Glad you were able to take some time off. Happy belated birthday to Jao! The cake flavors are out of this world,fantastic!

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  3. Patricia, that is a beautiful cake, those cherries on the top look very classy! I'm adding this post to my deli.cio.us :)
    Margot

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  4. Just reading the words "passion fruit truffle filling" leaves me a little weak in the knees. How divine!

    Happy birthday to Jao. (And isn't he a lucky man to have someone who makes him a cake like this!)

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  5. Happy New Year !

    That cake looks super delicious. I'm going to keep it for my little girl's birthday :)

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  6. Happy New Year, Patricia! What a lovely and festive cake - Joao is very lucky! You know my birthday is soon ...

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  7. Happy New Year Pat! I think I still have room for cake (blushing)

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  8. You're back!!

    Glad you enjoyed your time away... the cake looks fantastic - if pictures don't do it justice... it must have been pretty spectacular, because it looks divine!

    ~Michelle

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  9. Gorgeous cake! the passionfruit filling sounds perfect with the chocolate.

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  10. It's gorgeous! And the cherries on top are perfect!

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  11. Happy New Year! That cake look so good! Chocolate and cherries are a great combo and you just can't go wrong adding some whipped cream!

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  12. WOW!!!! What a way to bring in the New Year. That's one of the best looking chocolate cakes I've ever seen!

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  13. Happy New year, Patricia. I'm glad that you are "back". This cake looks beautiful! No wonder everyone wanted a slice. Sharing the calories is a great idea :-)

    Happy belated birthday to Joao. My man's birthday was on the 28th Dec. I baked him a cake too but didn't have time to capture it on camera. I made a choc truffle cake.

    xx Nora

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  14. Mmmmm- that looks fantastic, my husband would love ti!! Happy New Year :)

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  15. Happy New Year Patrcia! I love the rustic look to this cake, sounds delicious!!

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  16. happy new year patricia!! more blessings and delightful goodies for 2008!!

    i cant ask for more..this is exactly the chocolate cake recipe im looking for..the cocoa genoise and dark ganache filling..hmmm wouldnt say no for two slice of that :-)

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  17. What a beautiful cake! Ted's birthday is coming up in a few days. Maybe he'll get lucky and I'll try this cake for him. Happy new year to you and Joao.

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  18. That cake looks amazing! I love the cherries on top - Happy New Year!

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  19. Mmm, I've never actually had passion fruit before, but this sounds so delicious...!

    Glad that you're back- I missed your posts!

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  20. That looks beautiful and sounds delicious! I am sure that Joao enjoyed his birthday treat!

    Happy new Year!

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  21. What a gorgeous cake! Joao must have been pleased as punch to get such a wonderful for his day. Glad you got to a take a break to enjoy the beautiful days.

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  22. My dear friend, you crack me up! I really like the pairing of chocolate and passion fruit.

    Helen, my dear, thank you!!

    Margot, I hope you try it someday.

    Julie, thank you! He is a great person, he deserves a nice cake. :)

    Hi, Cooking Ninja! I hope they like it!

    T.W., I'd love to bake you a cake, too, my friend!

    Peter, have as many slices as you want, please. ;)

    Michelle, my dear! There was not a good place to put the cake and photograph it... That's why I didn't like the photos. :)

    May, they were good together, tks!

    Bri, I didn't find good raspberries and the cherries were a lot cheaper after Xmas. :)

    Kevin, tks!

    Sher, you are far too kind, dear!

    Nora, I have missed you! One of my sisters-in-law had 3 slices... :D
    That cake you baked sounds heavenly. Happy Birthday to your partner, too!
    xoxo

    Beth, thank you, sweetie!

    Hi, darling! thank you!

    Dhanggit, the dark ganache goes on top, but you can use it for the filling, too!

    Lydia, I know that he'll have a wonderful cake. :)

    Jade, tks for your visit!

    Hannah, missed you too, sweetie!

    Jenn, he did! Thank you!

    Lynn, I did but I missed baking! :)

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  23. I like the rustic-unfinished-icing look. I just want to touch my screen and lick my finger :)

    A very happy new year to you too!

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  24. It's beautiful, Patricia! And it sounds so delicious, who cares about the calories? And as a funny coincidence, our spouses share a birthday.

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  25. Patricia, Happy New Year! What a beautiful cake!

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  26. Pat, Happy New Year! Your cake is wonderful!

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  27. This looks WONDERFUL! I'm so pleased you topped it with some beautiful cherries, as chocolate and cherries is one of my all time favorite combinations. Happy new year, darling!

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  28. Oh. My. Goodness. My knees are weak just looking at that cake-- and I'm sitting down!

    Happy New Year! And that cake is gorgeous.

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  29. Oh my! Passion fruit, white chocolate, more chocolate, cake, cherries... So many keywords that make me want to take a bite off my screen! Great job!
    :-)

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  30. Happy New Year! I wish I was there in the 95 degree weather eating that chocolate cake! (It's 35 degrees here in Seattle, and POURING down rain...)

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  31. Gorgeous, decadent and delicious! Amazing cake, Patricia! :) (I'm quietly sulking that I don't have a piece lol)

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  32. This sounds like a delicious cake and it looks beautiful !

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  33. Gorgeous cake. Love the shards of white chocolate on the top.

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  34. What a gorgeous cake, and that filling sounds delicious!!

    Happy New Year! I wish you all the best for 2008!

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  35. Your chocolate cake looks absolutley divine!! And I love the passionfruit along with it...oh, for a slice right now....
    Ronell

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  36. I was wondering where you were! I kept checking back here.

    Your cake looks exquisite. I love the cherries on top.
    I'm jealous of the nice weather you've been having.

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  37. A break from the computer is good. The amount of time I spent in front of the PC last year was unhealthy, I think.

    The start of the new year is always a time of reflection and resolution. So, I'm going to reduce my computer screen time this year.

    You have presented a stunning layer chocolate cake, Patricia. Does the way to Joao's heart go through chocolate?

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  38. I approve of taking a break (although I seem to be guilty of that as well!)

    Have a delicious 2008.

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  39. Now that's a cake to make a comeback with, Patricia. Sensational!

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  40. I don't know, it looks pretty damn good to me! Look at that ganache. Oh, wow!

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  41. Happy New Year to you as well!
    This cake is divine. I want a slice with my morning espresso!

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  42. What a great cake to welcome the new year Patricia. Happy New Year my friend!

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  43. Hey, it's so nice to see your update and happy new year! :)

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  44. Terry, that's really a nice coincidence. :)
    Happy belated birthday to Marion!

    Pam, thank you, dear!

    Anh, I'm glad you like it!

    Sara, to you, too, sweetie! The cherries were fresh and not too expensive, to it was a good thing to use.

    Hanne, you are far too kind, tks!

    Zen Chef, good to know you like the flavors I used here, tks!

    Mallow, I like the cold, my friend. :)

    Nikki, it was gone so fast I couldn't believe it. :)

    Veron, thank you, darling!

    Cheryl, white chocolate is one of my absolute passions.

    Deb, thank you! I wish you and hubby the same, dear!

    Ronell, passion fruit is a nice twist here. Thank you!

    Emiline, you are so sweet, thank you!
    The problem here in Sao Paulo is that there's too much pollution, so the air is dry and it gets hard to breathe. :(

    Karin, Joao is into savory food, my friend.
    I need to start exercising again, that's one of my resolutions.

    Karen, I wish you the best, too, dear.

    Susan, thank you, sweetie!

    Cakespy, I'm glad to know you like the cake! Thank you!

    Maryann, have some, please!

    Nic, thank you, sweetie!

    Bernice, and I'm glad to see you here, thank you!

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  45. Wow that is one beautiful and decadent looking cake! Now I want to make it too. And what a great idea to use a passion fruit filling.

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  46. This looks really good Patricia, don't forget to save me a slice lol

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  47. oh my gosh, that looks just amazing! that frosting looks so rich and delicious!

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  48. Oh Patricia! That looks fantastic.
    Happy New Year!

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  49. Wow! this just looks so pretty!!!!!

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  50. You're mad, that first picture had me drooling! Luck Joao - hope he had a wonderful birthday.

    Happy New Year Patricia, hope 2008 is a fantastic one for you. x

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  51. What an incredible looking cake. It looks divine.
    Happy New Year, Patricia.

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  52. That looks awesome! Yumm!

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  53. Really wonderful, all these ingredients together formed an incredibly delicious and beautiful dessert!

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  54. Happy New Year Patricia!!!

    That cake looks absolutely heavenly. Stunning birthdaycake

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  55. oh my! you had me at white chocolate passion fruit :)

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  56. Well if this cake isn't over the top, I don't know what is. Totally decadent and lovely!

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  57. Hi Patricia
    being a cake lover, i browse to look for inspirations and pick up ideas and thoughts as part of continual improvement process. I am happy I stopped at your blog...good content and lot to learn.
    Cheers and greetings to you from Botswana.

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  58. This is stellar Patricia...love that almost dripping chocolate ganache. my first time here and i am way more than impressed! :)

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  59. Hi, Navita!
    Thank you for taking the time to write, you are so kind!
    xx

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