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In the Oven: Root Beer Bundt Cake

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Only seven recipes left! Next up on the schedule is a cake with an avalanche of root beer — the Root Beer Bundt Cake! Posting date is February 23.

Root Beer Bundt Cake
 
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Yield: One 10-inch bundt cake
Ingredients
For the root beer bundt cake
  • 2 cups root beer (do not use diet root beer)
  • 1 cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1¼ cups granulated sugar
  • ½ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1¼ teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
For the root beer fudge frosting
  • 2 ounces dark chocolate (60% cacao), melted and cooled slightly
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup root beer
  • ⅔ cup dark unsweetened
  • cocoa powder
  • 2½ cups confectioners’ sugar
To serve
  • Vanilla ice cream
Instructions
Make the root beer bundt cake
  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Generously spray the inside of a 10-inch bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray; alternatively, butter it, dust with flour, and knock out the excess flour.
  2. In a small saucepan, heat the root beer, cocoa powder, and butter over medium heat until the butter is melted. Add the sugars and whisk until dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs until just beaten, then whisk them into the cooled cocoa mixture until combined. Gently fold the flour mixture into the cocoa mixture. The batter will be slightly lumpy—do not overbeat, as it could cause the cake to be tough.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time, until a small sharp knife inserted into the cake comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Gently loosen the sides of the cake from the pan and turn it out onto the rack.
Make the root beer fudge frosting
  1. Put all the ingredients in a food processor. Pulse in short bursts until the frosting is shiny and smooth. Use a spatula to spread the fudge frosting over the crown of the bundt in a thick layer. Let the frosting set before serving, with the ice cream on the side.

 

In the Oven: German Chocolate Cake

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We are entering 2020 with our last ten recipes from Baked – New Frontiers! It’s been a delicious nine-year journey.

Next up, we’re firing up our ovens again to make a German chocolate cake. The cake can be made with our without the milk chocolate frosting, up you you. Posting date is January 12!

5.0 from 1 reviews
German Chocolate Cake
 
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Yield: 1 (8-inch) cake
Ingredients
For the German chocolate cake layers
  • 2 1⁄4 cups cake flour
  • 3⁄4 cup dark, unsweetened cocoa powder, like Valrhona
  • 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup hot coffee
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 1⁄4 cups (2 1⁄2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 1⁄4 cups sugar
  • 5 large eggs
  • 1 1⁄2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 4 ounces dark chocolate, melted and cooled
For the coconut pecan filling
  • 1 1⁄3 cups shredded sweetened coconut
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1⁄2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1 cup evaporated milk
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 1 1⁄3 cup toasted pecans, chopped coarsely
Instructions
Make the German chocolate cake layers
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter three 8-inch cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper, and butter the parchment. Dust with flour, and knock out the excess flour.
  2. Sift the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium mixing bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the coffee and buttermilk.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Scrape down the bowl and add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated. Add the vanilla and beat to incorpo- rate. The mixture will look light and fluffy.
  4. Add the flour mixture, alternating with the coffee/buttermilk mixture, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in the melted chocolate.
  5. Divide the batter among the prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through the baking time, until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean. Transfer the cakes to a wire rack and let cool for 20 minutes. Invert the cakes onto the rack and remove the pans and let cool completely. Remove the parchment.
Make the coconut pecan filling
  1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Spread half of the coconut evenly across the pan and place in the oven for 5 minutes or until the coconut begins to brown. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.
  3. In a large saucepan, stir together the sugar, butter, evaporated milk, vanilla, and egg yolks. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. After the mixture begins to boil and thicken, remove from the heat and stir in the toasted coconut, regular coconut, and pecans.
  4. Place the pan over an ice bath (a large bowl filled with ice) and stir the mixture until cool.
Assemble the cake
  1. Place one cake layer on a serving platter. Trim the top to create a flat surface and evenly spread one third of the filling on top. Add the next layer, trim and frost with one third of the filling, then add the third layer. Trim the top, and frost with the remaining filling.
Notes
How to store: The cake will keep in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 2 days.

 

In the Oven: Red Hot Velvet Cake with Cinnamon Buttercream

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Next up on the schedule: the gentlemen bakers’ twist on a red velvet cake… with cinnamon frosting! Posting date is October 20.

Red Hot Velvet Cake with Cinnamon Buttercream
 
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Yield: One 8-inch cake
Ingredients
For the red hot velvet cake layers
  • ¼ cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons red gel food coloring
  • ¼ cup boiling water
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, cut into small pieces
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening, at room temperature
  • 1⅔ cups sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups cake flour
  • 1 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
For the cinnamon frosting
  • 1½ cups sugar
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1½ cups milk
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 1½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, soft but cool, cut into small pieces
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
To assemble the cake
  • Red Hots (cinnamon imperials) candies for decoration
Instructions
Make the red hot velvet cake layers
  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper, and butter the parchment. Dust with flour, and knock out the excess flour.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, food coloring, and boiling water. Set aside to cool.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and shortening until smooth. Scrape down the bowl and add the sugar. Beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  4. Stir the buttermilk and vanilla into the cooled cocoa mixture.
  5. Sift the flour and salt together into another medium bowl. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture, alternating with the cocoa mixture, to the egg mixture in three separate additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Beat until incorporated.
  6. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar and baking soda and stir until the baking soda dissolves; the mixture will fizz. Add to the batter and stir until just combined.
  7. Divide the batter among the prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean, about 30 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through the baking time. Transfer the cakes to a wire rack and let cool for 20 minutes. Invert the cakes onto the rack, remove the pans, and let cool completely. Remove the parchment.
Make the cinnamon frosting
  1. In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, whisk the sugar and flour together. Add the milk and cream and cook over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until the mixture comes to a boil and has thickened, about 20 minutes.
  2. Transfer the mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on high speed until cool. Reduce the speed to low and add the butter; beat until thoroughly incorporated. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.
  3. Add the vanilla and cinnamon and continue mixing until combined. If the frosting is too soft, transfer the bowl to the refrigerator to chill slightly, then beat again until it is the proper consistency. If the frosting is too firm, place the bowl over a pot of simmering water and beat with a wooden spoon until it is the proper consistency.
Assemble the cake
  1. Place one cooled cake layer on a serving platter. Trim the top to create a flat surface and evenly spread about 1¼ cups of the frosting on top. Top with the next layer, trim and frost the top, then add the third layer. Crumb coat the cake (see page 22) and put the cake in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to firm up the frosting. Frost the sides and top with the remaining frosting. Garnish the cake with the Red Hots and refrigerate again for 15 minutes.