-------------------------------CHOCOLATE CAKE-------------------------------
2 T Plus 3/4 C sugar
1/4 c Unsifted all-purpose flour
1/4 c Unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 t Baking powder
6 lg Eggs, at room temperature
----------------------------------PUDDING----------------------------------
4 c (1 quart) heavy cream
10 lg Egg yolks
3/4 c Sugar
1 1/2 c Semisweet chocolate chips
-----------------------------------SAUCE-----------------------------------
1 c (1/2 pint) heavy cream
1 1/2 c (about 8 oz) chopped
-bittersweet chocolate
2 T Grand Marnier or other
-orange-flavored liqueur
1. Day before serving, prepare and assemble Chocolate Cake and Pud-
ding. To prepare Chocolate Cake, grease a 10-inch springform pan;
sprinkle inside greased pan with 2 tablespoons sugar. In medium-size
bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, and baking powder; set aside.
2. Heat oven to 350 F. In large bowl, with electric mixer, beat eggs
and remaining 3/4 C sugar until double in volume 5 minutes. To prepare
cake batter, gently fold flour mixture into egg mixture just until
combined. Pour batter into prepared springform pan and bake cake 20
to 25 minutes or until center springs back when gently pressed with
fingertip.
3. Cool cake in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove cake from pan and
cool completely on wire rack.
4. To prepare Pudding, in 2-quart saucepan, heat cream to boiling. In
large bowl, with wire whisk, beat egg yolks and sugar until well com-
bined. Slowly beat hot cream into yolk mixture and pour all back into
saucepan. Cook cream mixture over low heat until pudding coats a
spoon. (Do not boil.) Remove pudding from heat and stir in chocolate
chips until mixture is smooth. Cool to room temperature.
5. To assemble Chocolate Pudding Cake, cut cake horizontally into 3
equal slices. Line inside of cleaned springform pan with aluminum
foil. Place top layer of cake in bottom of springform pan. Pour
one-third of pudding over cake layer in pan. Top with middle cake
layer and half of remaining pudding. Place bottom cake layer, bottom
side up, in pan and top with remaining pudding. Cover loosely with
plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight.
6. Heat oven to 300 F. Place springform pan with cake into large
roasting pan and remove plastic wrap. Pour enough boiling water into
roasting pan to come half way up side of springform pan. Bake Choco-
late Pudding Cake 1 hour or until top of cake is glazed over.
7. Cool cake in pan on wire rack 15 minutes. Cover loosely and
refrigerate until well chilled.
8. Just before serving, prepare Sauce: In 2-quart saucepan, heat
cream to boiling. Remove pan from heat and stir in chocolate and
Grand Marnier until smooth. Strain sauce and keep warm. If desired,
prepare Chocolate Curls.
9. To serve, remove side of springform pan and slice cake into wedges;
place each wedge onto dessert plate. Top cake wedges with chocolate
sauce and Chocolate Curls, if desired.
Making Chocolate Curls
Leave block or square of white or semisweet chocolate in warm room
(80 to 85 F) for several hours or heat, repeatedly, in microwave
oven 7 to 8 seconds just enough to soften chocolate slightly). Place
softened square or block against paper towel in one hand; using a
sharp vegetable peeler, dig one blade into edge or side of chocolate
(depending on how wide you want your curls) and bring peeler towards
you; chocolate should come off in curls. If chocolate is too cold it
will splinter; if too warm it will not curl.
Country Living Holidays/92 Scanned & fixed by Di Pahl & <gg>
