Dark Chocolate and Pumpkin Swirl Cake

 

Dark Chocolate and Pumpkin Swirl Cake

Dark Chocolate and Pumpkin Swirl Cake

This recipe, Dark Chocolate and Pumpkin Swirl Cake, was in the November issue of Better Homes and Gardens.  With Thanksgiving only weeks away, it might be something that you will add to your dessert table.

Dark Chocolate and Pumpkin Swirl Cake Recipe

 

Dark Chocolate and Pumpkin Swirl Cake

1 ¾ cups flour

2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

2 large eggs

1 ¼ cups sugar

½ cup unsalted butter, melted

½ cup buttermilk

2 tsp. vanilla

1 cup canned pumpkin

3 oz. dark chocolate, melted

2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 ½ cups powdered sugar

1 tsp. finely shredded orange peel

2 to 3 Tbsp. milk or orange juice

 

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Coat a 9×5 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.  Line pan with parchment; coat with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

In a large bowl whisk together flour, spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar.  Add butter, buttermilk and vanilla.  Whisk until combined.  Fold in pumpkin.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients all at once; whisk just until no lumps remain.

Divide batter in half.  Add melted chocolate and cocoa powder to half to batter; stir to combine.

Alternately add batters to pan.  Using a knife, swirl through batter.  Bake 55 to 65 minutes until cake has risen and cracked, and a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.  Remove; let cool 20 minutes.  Invert onto wire rack; cool completely.

For orange glaze, in a small bowl stir together powdered sugar, orange peel and orange juice.  Spoon over cooled cake.            12 servings

 

(Recipe for Dark Chocolate and Pumpkin Swirl Cake was in www.tasteofhome.com, 2014)

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Chocolate Cherry Truffles

Chocolate Cherry Truffles

Chocolate Cherry Truffles

 

Recipe provided courtesy of Taste of Home magazine.  Find more great recipes at

www.tasteofhome.com

 

My blue ribbon cherry truffles were the delicious result of a kitchen experiment involving a bottle of kirsch I’d received as a gift and some dried cherries I had on hand.  It is an annual favorite of my friends and family.

        Gerry Cofta                                                                        Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 

Chocolate Cherry Truffles Recipe

Chocolate Cherry Truffles

 

1 cup finely chopped dried cherries

¼ cup cherry brandy

11 oz. 53% cacao dark baking chocolate, chopped

½ cup heavy whipping cream

1 tsp. cherry extract

Coating:   4 oz. milk chocolate, chopped

4 oz. dark chocolate, chopped

Melted dark, milk and white chocolate and pearl dust

In a small bowl, combine cherries and brandy; cover and let soak for 1 hour or until cherries are softened.

Place dark chocolate in a small bowl.  In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil.  Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth.  Stir in extract and soaked cherries with liquid.  Cool to room  temperature, stirring occasionally.  Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.

Shape into 1 inch balls.  Place on baking sheets; cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

In a microwave, melt milk chocolate; stir until smooth.  Dip half of the balls into milk chocolate, allowing excess to drip off.  Place on waxed paper; let stand until set.

Melt dark chocolate; stir until smooth.  Dip remaining balls into dark chocolate, allowing excess to drip off.  Place on waxed paper; let stand until set.  Drizzle with melted chocolate and decorate with pearl dust as desired.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.           4 dozen

 

(Recipe for Chocolate Cherry Truffles was on www.tasteofhome.com, 2013)

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