Archives for November 2011

You won’t need to bother with cake mix that comes in a box anymore now that you have found this homemade chocolate cake recipes that I’m about to share.

Here is a homemade chocolate cake recipe that is far beyond decent, it’s delicious. It’s also a very easy recipe to prepare, and it uses common household ingredients. Chances are you will already have most of these in your pantry and fridge, if not, you can fill in the missing pieces at most convenience stores. You can also use your favorite icing, if you would like, however I prefer this cake without any icing. The top bakes into a nice, thin crust on it’s own.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter (or margarine)
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 3 squares unsweetened chocolate (melted)
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup boiling water

Preparation:

1. Beat together the butter and the sugar in a large mixing bowl.

2. Add the eggs and continue to beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.

3. Now, add the vanilla and the chocolate into your large mixing bowl and continue mixing everything together until the chocolate and vanilla are evenly distributed.

4. Sift together all of the dry ingredients and add them into the large mixing bowl along with the sour cream. Add a small portion of the dry ingredients, then a small portion of the sour cream, then a small portion of the dry ingredients again, followed once more by sour cream. Continue this process until everything is mixed together.

5. It’s so important to use a beater to properly mix everything that I’m giving that it’s own step as well.

6. Pour this mixture into one large cake pan or two smaller ones.

7. Preheat your oven to 350 degree F and bake your cake batter for about 35 minutes. Start to keep an eye on it at around 25-30 minutes, and poke it with a toothpick when it looks done. If nothing sticks to the toothpick, you can remove your completed cake from the oven.

Once your cake is out of the oven, you can apply your favorite choice of frosting or just leave it as it is to sit for about 10 minutes and set. Fast forward ten minutes, it is now time to cut the cake and enjoy! Make sure you share this chocolate cake recipe with your chocolate-loving friends, too.

Your child’s first birthday and 1st birthday cake recipes are truly special day for you and your family. They may not remember much of the day in years to come but rest assured, kids do know when it’s a special day and enjoy all the excitement. You can prepare your first birthday cake recipes in no time

The highlight of every birthday party is the cake and every kid in the world loves a chocolate cake. Therefore, chocolate cakes remain the first choice for most birthday parties. Here is a delicious chocolate cake recipe that is easy to make and guaranteed to please your toddler…and the guests.

Ingredients:

• Cocoa powder – 1 cup
• Boiling water – 2 cups
• Butter – 1 cup
• Sugar – 2 ½ cups
• Eggs – 4
• All-purpose flour – 2 ¾ cups
• Baking soda – 2 ¼ teaspoons
• Salt – A pinch
• Vanilla extract or essence – 1 ½ teaspoons

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C or 350°F.
• Mix the cocoa powder in boiling water and make sure there are no lumps.
• Mix the baking powder, flour and baking soda, and keep aside.
• Mix the butter and sugar together in a blender.
• Once the mixture is creamy, add the eggs one by one. Beat well after each addition.
• Once the sugar is fully dissolved and the eggs are nicely beaten and slightly frothy, start adding the flour mix spoon by spoon, beating well after each addition.
• Add the cocoa mixture and fold lightly.
• Add the vanilla essence.
• Grease three 9-inch baking pans.
• Divide and pour the batter into the three pans.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes.
• Cool before taking out of the pans.

Your chocolate cake is ready. Now for the wonderful frosting that kids love on their cake:

Ingredients:

• 1 pack of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup of half and half cream
• ¾ cup of unsalted butter
• 2 ½ cups of icing sugar
• Mixed fruit jam
• Piping bag

Directions:

• In a double boiler, melt the chocolate chips, cream and butter.
• Take off the heat and stir in the icing sugar.
• Beat the mix until it achieves a spreading consistency. Don’t overbeat it otherwise the cream will separate and give a slightly acrid taste.
• Cut the cake in layers and spread the frosting between the layers and all over the cake.
• Put some mixed fruit jam in a piping bag and pipe over the cake in any design you like.
• Put the cake in the refrigerator to set.

You can also decorate the cake with gems and edible silver balls. Make sure that you don’t put anything in and on the cake that is difficult for the toddlers to swallow.