Cake Recipes
Recipe 02- Rocky Road Sheet Cake
INGREDIENTS
CHOCOLATE CAKE
FIRST PART
- 1/3 cup (67g) brown sugar
- 1/3 cup strong coffee
- 1/2 cup (50g) dark cocoa (or dutch process)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
SECOND PART
- 1 1/2 cups (192g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup (113g) salted butter, warm but not melted
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (100g) packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup cold coffee
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
ROCKY ROAD TOPPING
- 1/2 cup (1 stick or 113g) butter
- 1/2 cup (50g) cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup (82g) buttermilk
- 3 cups (375g) confectioners sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1bag (10 ounces) mini marshmallows
- 1 cup chopped cashews
INSTRUCTIONS
CHOCOLATE CAKE
FIRST PART
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place all ingredients in the first part into a saucepan over low heat. Stir until they are fully incorporated, 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool a bit. It should be a little thick and similar to custard.
SECOND PART
- In a medium bowl, sift flour, baking soda, and baking powder together.
- Add 1/2 cup warm butter, sugars, eggs, cooled coffee, and vanilla to the flour mixture and mix with a hand-held mixer until fully combined. (or stir by hand)
- Add the chocolate mixture from the FIRST PART to the ingredients from the SECOND PART. Stir by hand until all ingredients are well combined.
- Pour onto a prepared (sprayed or lined with parchment) baking sheet (I used a 10x15in baking sheet). Smooth out the batter and gently tap on the counter.
- Bake in a 350°F oven for 16-22 minutes, or until the center no longer appears wet and an inserted toothpick is removed with a few crumbs.
ROCKY ROAD TOPPINGS
- While the cake is baking combine the butter, cocoa, and buttermilk and bring to a boil.
- Remove from heat, and add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and half of the marshmallows. Stir to combine.
- Sprinkle remaining half marshmallows over hot baked cake
- Pour icing over hot cake, it should spread itself out evenly over cake.
- Sprinkle with chopped Cashews.
Recipe 01 – Vanilla Cake
Ingredients
- 3 and 2/3 cups (433g) cake flour (spoon & leveled)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 and 1/2 cups (345g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs + 2 additional egg whites, at room temperature*
- 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract (yes, Tbsp!)
- 1 and 1/2 cups (360ml) buttermilk, at room temperature*
Vanilla Buttercream
- 1 and 1/2 cups (345g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 5 and 1/2 cups (650g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1/3 cup (80ml) whole milk or heavy cream
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease three 9-inch cake pans, line with parchment paper, then grease the parchment paper. Parchment paper helps the cakes seamlessly release from the pans.
- Make the cake: Whisk the cake flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together. Set aside.
- Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Beat in the 3 eggs, 2 egg whites, and vanilla extract on high speed until combined, about 2 minutes. (Mixture will look curdled as a result of the egg liquid and solid butter combining.) Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients just until combined. With the mixer still running on low, pour in the buttermilk and mix just until combined. You may need to whisk it all by hand to make sure there are no lumps at the bottom of the bowl. The batter will be slightly thick.
- Pour batter evenly into cake pans. Weigh them to ensure accuracy, if desired. Bake for around 23-26 minutes or until the cakes are baked through. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it’s done. Allow cakes to cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack. The cakes must be completely cool before frosting and assembling.
- Make the frosting: In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and salt with the mixer running on low. Increase to high speed and beat for 2 minutes. Add more confectioners’ sugar if frosting is too thin, more milk if frosting is too thick, or an extra pinch of salt if frosting is too sweet.
- Assemble and decorate: Using a large serrated knife, slice a thin layer off the tops of the cakes to create a flat surface. Discard (or crumble over ice cream!). Place 1 cake layer on your cake stand, cake turntable, or serving plate. Evenly cover the top with about 1 and 1/2 cups of frosting. Top with 2nd cake layer and evenly cover the top with about 1 and 1/2 cups of frosting. Top with the third cake layer. Spread the remaining frosting all over the top and sides. I use and recommend an icing spatula to apply the frosting.
- Refrigerate cake for at least 1 hour before slicing. This helps the cake hold its shape when cutting.
- Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.