A rich-chocolate cake for Valentine’s Day in contemporary culture is a very romantic gesture. Chocolate is often associated with romance and love, such notion may stemmed from the belief that chocolate have some aphrodisiac quality or increases libido when consumed. Studies have shown cacao, precursors to chocolate, contains natural stimulants like caffeine, theobromine, tryptophan, phenylethylamine, and anandamide that could imitate neurotransmitters associated with pleasure. One stimulants that could have been linked to the feeling of falling in love and aphrodisiac effect in chocolate is theobromine that functions as a vasodilator that makes blood vessels relax, blood freely flow that arouses the brain creating alertness or sharpness of mind, and calms the heart creating a parasympathetic effect. Is the parasympathetic effect extends to having sufficient blood flow within the penis in order to have an erection, hence the aphrodisiac effect? Further research, study and reading are needed for that. On the other side of other effects, it can be diuretics and purgative when taken in larger quantity, so be careful. Perhaps, the feel-good effects of chocolate, even it is temporary, is similar to relax, feel-good effects and flitting moments of falling in love, hence the close association and the cultural pairing.
This chocolate cake recipe is a combination of Alton Browns, Chef John, Joy and many others chocolate cake recipes. Is this a crime? Then, so I am guilty for wanting and creating a delectable nihilistic concoction. For that reason, the deepest sincere gratitude to all food mavericks for the knowledge shared and inspiration sparked.
Chocolate Cake Recipe
This recipe is good for one 9x13 sheet cake. Good for 15-20 servings, but such number depends who is eating.
Preparation Time: 2 hours (most of it is just waiting)
Cooking Time: 30-35 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup boiling water
4 ounces Dutch-process cocoa powder (dark one)
½ teaspoon kosher salt
10 ½ ounces dark brown sugar (more molasses the better)
5 ½ ounces all-purpose flour
4 ounces cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup vegetable oil
4 ½ ounces sour cream, at room temperature (Mexican kind, Krema)
2 large whole eggs
2 large egg yolks
Procedures:
1. Pre-heat oven at 350 degree Fahrenheit (for regular aluminum pan of 1-2 inch pan) or 325-330 degree Fahrenheit (for anodized, dark, glass or 3-4 inch deep pan).
2. Grease or lightly butter and line the 9x13 inch pan with baking paper. Set aside.
3. In a small bowl, bloom the chocolate flavor for better taste by whisking together boiling water, cocoa powder and kosher salt.
4. Combine the sugar, flours and baking soda, whisk for about 30 to a minute until fine and not visible lumps, an alternative to shifting.
5. Whisk the oil, sour cream, eggs and egg yolks is a large pourable vessel. Add the oil mixture to the cocoa-water mixture, slowly whisk together until combine.
6. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour half of the wet ingredients and whisk until able. Then add the second half and whisk until combine and smooth.
7. Pour the batter the batter into pan and bake until the cake springs bake when pressed, or bake 30-35 minutes.
8. Cool in the pan on a rack for 30 minutes, and then remove cake form the pan to cool completely before frosting, about 1 hour.
Assembling the Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Chocolate
ganache is simple and quick but if a hand or stand mixer is available chocolate
frosting will be great. There are different kinds of chocolate frosting, for
this recipe will employ an American buttercream using butter and semi-sweet
chocolate. This kind will be great on warm weather as it has higher melting
point compare to other frostings, thus can stand room temperature for a longer
time before it melts away, while an Italian (meringue) buttercream frosting is
the ideal for cold weather and so far it is the best buttercream frosting for
my taste. But for now, I will settle with a simply delicious American
buttercream frosting.
Chocolate American Buttercream Frosting
6 ½ ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled
8 ounces powdered sugar
pinch kosher salt
Procedures:
1. In a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on high, until light and fluffy, which would be for 3 to 4minutes.
2. With the mixer of low, slowly add the melted chocolate, until all of the chocolate is incorporated.
3. Turn off the mixer and add one-third of the powdered sugar. Mix until combined. Repeat until all of the powdered sugar has been added. Add the salt together with the last batch of powdered sugar. Once all sugar are worked in, increase mixer speed on high until frosting is smooth and lightens slightly in color, for 2 to 3 minutes.
NTS: Frosting could be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 hours or refrigerate for up to a week.
This is a romantic cake recipe for the romantic month, hope you try and share your thoughts down below. And watch out for the chocolate ganache and chocolate Italian buttercream recipes, follow and subscribe so you would not missed it. Find this recipe lacking please feel free to post your reactions, suggestions, and corrections as it would help this blog create better content. Thank you!
As always enjoy cooking! Itadakimase! Kain na!
Reference and Inspired by
1. GlobalSugarArt. (2014, June 6). Buttercream Basics: Making a Cake. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqpoG2nJOw8
2. Brown, Alton. (n.d.). Devil’s Food Cake. [Blog Post] Retrieved from http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/devils-food-cake-recipe-1923693#reviewsTop
3. Chef John. (2013, February 25). Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake- You Asked For it! [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://foodwishes.blogspot.com/2013/02/chocolate-sour-cream-bundt-cake-you.html
4. Reardon, Ann. (2015. January 23). Best Chocolate Frosting Recipes Taste Tested. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/best-chocolate-frosting-recipes-taste-tested/
5. Joy of Baking. (2013, September 13). Simple Chocolate Cake Recipe Demonstration. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsSz7t5lqzw
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