Chocolate Cake with Crepe Paper Flowers and a Phyllo Nest
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- Yield Serves 12
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Ingredients
For the Cake
- Unsalted butter, room temperature, for pans
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 cups unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder, plus more for pans
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 2 large eggs, plus 1 large egg yolk
- 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup dark rum
- 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Frosting
- 4 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 18 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted
- 1 1/2 cups sour cream
For the Garnish
- 1 thick 16-ounce block bittersweet chocolate, room temperature
- Confectioners' sugar, for dusting (optional)
- Phyllo nest
- Small candy-coated chocolate eggs
- Crepe paper flowers
For the Nest
- 2 teaspoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for mold
- 1/2 ounce ( 1/2 cup) kataifi (a type of phyllo), thawed
- Cocoa powder, for dusting
Directions
- Make the nest: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly brush a 1/3-cup-capacity round silicone mold with butter. In a bowl, gently toss butter and kataifi to combine.
- Lift kataifi out of bowl, gently stretching strands to form a loose rope. Lay 1 end in the cupped fingers of 1 hand. Gently spiral rope to shape into a nest.
- Fit nest into mold, pulling up edges to rest over rim. Place on a baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely in mold on a wire rack. Unmold. Dust with cocoa.
- Make the cake: Butter two 10-by-2-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment cut to fit, and butter parchment. Dust with cocoa, and tap out excess. Sift flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of a mixer. Add remaining ingredients. Mix on low speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Divide batter among prepared pans.
- Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until a toothpick inserted into centers of cakes comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let cool in pans on wire racks for 45 minutes. Run a knife around edges of cakes to loosen, and turn onto racks. Remove parchment, turn cakes right side up, and let cool completely.
- Make the frosting: Sift confectioners' sugar, cocoa, and salt into a bowl. In the bowl of a mixer, beat cream cheese and butter on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Gradually add sugar mixture, beating until combined. Beat in melted chocolate and sour cream until combined.
- Make the garnish: Using a vegetable peeler, scrape chocolate at a 45-degree angle. Using a spatula, transfer curls to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or up to 4 days).
- To assemble: Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cakes to create level surfaces. Reserve trimmings. Place 1 cake, cut side up, on a cake stand. Spread 2 cups frosting over top. Top with remaining cake, cut side up. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides. Finely grind cake trimmings in a food processor. Sprinkle crumbs over top of cake.
- Using tweezers, gently press chocolate curls to sides of cake. Dust top with confectioners' sugar if desired. Decorate with nest, chocolate eggs, and flowers.
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I just made the frosting portion of the recipe, and it is AMAZING! My new favorite chocolate recipe. I made half a batch and it was plenty for a 9-inch double layer cake. I also ended up adding some vanilla and a bit more sour cream to get the consistency and flavor right. I highly recommend this frosting!
I made this cake! It will be posted to my blog tomorrow (called "Snippets of Thyme") at rileymadel.blogspot.com I love to make anything from Martha Stewart's magazines. This cake is gorgeous and so, so chocolaty. Please visit and you can try it too!
For the paper flowers go here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/crepe-paper-crocuses-and-snowdrops-...
I am unable to get the crepe paper flower link either, can someone help?!?
I am unable to get the crepe paper flower link either, can someone help?!?
Hello :)
I still can't access the link to the Flowers !!! HELP PLEASE !!!
I cannot access the link to the flowers. Any suggestions?
Hi joyfarm, we've added a link to a larger image as well!
Thanks! I think they added it after my comment. Good job!
joyfarm, the photo is on the "print friendly" page with the link for the "how To" make the crepe paper flowers.
Hi. Please add a larger photo, as well as a link to how to make the crepe paper flowers. Thank you!