Monday, April 20, 2009

Chocolate Cinnamon with almond Cream



3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup cake flour (see Ingredient note)
3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, at room temperature, separated
3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
5 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup 1% milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1 tablespoon amaretto
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Nutrition Info

Per Serving
Calories: 193 kcal
Carbohydrates: 24 g
Dietary Fiber: 1 g
Fat: 9 g
Protein: 3 g
Sugars: 14 g
About: Nutrition Info
Powered by: ESHA Nutrient Database

2. Cooking Directions

To prepare cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray with flour. Alternatively, spray the pan with regular cooking spray, dust with flour and tap out the excess.
Melt chocolate in the microwave on Medium in 30-second bursts, stirring after each burst to ensure even melting, until completely melted. (Alternatively, melt the chocolate in a double boiler over hot water, stirring constantly.) Set aside.
Whisk cake flour, whole-wheat flour, cocoa, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Beat egg whites in a clean medium bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Beat in 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a slow, steady stream. Continue beating until stiff peaks form.
Beat the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar and oil in a large bowl on medium speed until combined. Beat in egg yolks one at a time, then melted chocolate and vanilla, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary, until combined.
Add 1/2 cup milk to the egg-yolk mixture, beating on low speed, then add half the flour mixture. Beat in the remaining 1/2 cup milk, then the remaining flour mixture just until combined. Fold in the whites with a spatula, using long, even strokes. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly to the edges.
Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour.

To prepare almond cream:
Beat cream and confectioners' sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until the mixture is the consistency of sour cream, about 1 minute. Add sour cream, amaretto (or 1/4 teaspoon almond extract), vanilla and cinnamon; beat to combine. Serve the cake with the almond cream.

Yield: 18 servings

Carrot cake


Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour (see Ingredient Note)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup nonfat buttermilk
1/2 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained, juice reserved
2 cups grated carrots
1/4 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
2 tablespoons coconut chips or flaked coconut
12 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Nutrition Info

Per Serving
Calories: 320 kcal
Carbohydrates: 39 g
Dietary Fiber: 2 g
Fat: 15 g
Protein: 6 g
Sugars: 28 g
About: Nutrition Info
Powered by: ESHA Nutrient Database


2. Cooking Directions


To prepare cake:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Toast walnuts in a small baking pan in the oven until fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes.
Whisk flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Whisk eggs, sugar, buttermilk, oil, vanilla and 1/4 cup of the reserved pineapple juice in a large bowl until blended. Stir in pineapple, carrots and coconut. Add the dry ingredients and mix with a rubber spatula just until blended. Stir in the nuts. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly.
Bake the cake until the top springs back when touched lightly and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

To prepare frosting and finish cake:

Place coconut in a small baking pan and toast in the oven at 300 degrees F, stirring several times, until light golden, 5 to 10 minutes.
Beat cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Spread the frosting over the cooled cake. Sprinkle with the coconut.
Yield: 16 servings