Chocolate Bundt

This was my first bundt cake and may I say, it was the moistest chocolate cake I have ever had!! My last trip to Target sent me over to the seasonal department, this is where I stock up on sprinkles and holiday themed bake ware. There I found a Nordicware bundt pan that matched all of my kitchen stuff. I had to buy it on the spot. Once I got it home, the only recipe I had was for a banana loaf specifically made for bundt pans. I was not in the mood for banana loaf so I asked dear hubby what he wanted and his response was chocolate. So there began my hunt for a chocolate bundt recipe.

I wanted one that was tried and well reviewed. I looked over many recipes and most of them called for buttermilk, which if you read by banana bread post know I HATE buttermilk! I finally came across a recipe that was a semi-homemade chocolate bundt. It was rated 5/5 stars by over 350 people with many photos and reviews. I thought I had hit the jack-pot, which after trying I know I did. I knew a well tested semi-homemade recipe would be perfect for testing out my new pan. I always get nervous for the first bake in a new pan, I never know how the pan will cook!

The cake turned out beautiful. It was slightly candied/crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside. It was not as dense as I thought it would be, instead it was almost airy on the inside. The little bits of chocolate left little molten chocolate of heaven strewn throughout the cake. The glaze added that extra layer of chocolate but was completely extra, this cake would be delicious with just a sprinkling of icing sugar.

 As you can tell by my rambling, I am completely smitten with my perfect shade of blue bundt pan. I hope to post many more recipes in the upcoming weeks using this pan, including the banana bread recipe I have. I will also be hosting, decorating, cooking and baking for my nephew's second birthday in the upcoming weeks, so I apologize now for the Sesame Street/Elmo takeover that is immanent.

Cake and Nordicware Bundt Pan

Cake:
1 dark chocolate cake mix
1 4oz package of chocolate instant pudding mix
1-2 cups of chocolate chips (the recipe called for 2, I only used one for personal preference)
1 3/4 cups water
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease and flour pan.
2. Combine cake mix, pudding mix and chocolate chips.
3. Combine water, eggs and vanilla.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until just combined. (I just used a spatula)
5. Fill pan and bake for 50-55 minutes.
6. Cool for 15-20 minutes before turning out, finish cooling on wire rack
7. Top according to your preference

Glaze:
1/3 cup cream
1 cup chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla

1. Heat cream and vanilla until just before boiling
2. Pour over chocolate chips, let set for two minutes
3. Give a quick whip with a hand beater to ensure smooth texture
4. Pour over cake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

This cake has become my second favorite recipe, second to my strawberry champagne cake. This is a 4 layer cake technically, consisting of two cake rounds each filled with chocolate gnash. A peanut butter-marshmallow filling lies between the two cake rounds. The whole cake is covered with a chocolate gnash whipped topping. I use the peanut butter marshmallow fluff to decorate the cake and mini Reese's peanut butter cups for garnish.

Here you can see the peanut butter marshmallow filling.
You can also see the thin layer of gnash  in the middle of the cake.

This is what the cake looks like prior to frosting

Here is the frosted cake.

I decorated my cake with a simple shell base border.
The top border is rosettes topped with the mini Reese's cups.

I also added the mini Reese's cups along the bottom  border.

All packed up and ready to go!
I wish I could have cut into it to show you the layers,
but that will remain a mystery to you until you make it yourself.

S'more Truffles

I have made my second batch of truffles! This time I made plain chocolate truffles dipped in various toppings and s'more truffles. I used the same 1:2 cream to chocolate ratio for my gnash. These toppings included: cookies 'n' cream ice cream topping, toffee crunch ice cream topping, chocolate sprinkles and Valentine's day heart sprinkles.

I created the s'more truffle by rolling the gnash around a mini marshmallow and then rolling in graham cracker crumbs. I added the marshmallow by pushing my thumb into the gnash, making an indent for the marshmallow. I then molded the the chocolate around the rest of the marshmallow. Lastly, I rolled it in the crumbs.