Dark Chocolate-Caramel Cake with Gold-Dusted Chestnuts

Name: Dark Chocolate-Caramel Cake with Gold-Dusted Chestnuts
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: Global
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons baking powder; 59 milliliters brandy; 473 milliliters cake flour; 237 milliliters sweetened chestnut spread** with vanilla; 206 grams 24 jarred peeled whole chestnuts**; 12 coarsely chopped, 12 left whole (about; 1 cinnamon stick; 16 servings Edible gold dust; 4 larges eggs, separated; 2 Tbsps golden brown sugar; 237 milliliters heavy whipping cream; 255 grams high-quality milk chocolate (such as Lindt or Perugina); 1 teaspoon salt; 227 grams bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped; 59 milliliters sugar; 237 milliliters (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 59 milliliters water; 59 milliliters whole milk

Dark Chocolate-Caramel Cake with Gold-Dusted Chestnuts might be just the dessert you are searching for. One serving contains 462 calories, 6g of protein, and 30g of fat. This recipe serves 16. This recipe covers 9% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. A mixture of vanillan extract, semisweet chocolate, cake flour, and a handful of other ingredients are all it takes to make this recipe so delicious. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes around 45 minutes.

Instructions

Combine milk chocolate and bittersweet chocolate in medium bowl. Stir sugar, 2 tablespoons water, and cinnamon stick in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 6 minutes (time will vary depending on size of pan).

Ingredients you will need

Bittersweet Chocolate

Cinnamon Stick

Milk Chocolate

Sugar

Syrup

Water

Equipment you will use

Pastry Brush

Sauce Pan

Bowl

Frying Pan

Add cream and salt (mixture will bubble vigorously). Bring caramel to boil, whisking until smooth and caramel bits dissolve, about 1 minute. Discard cinnamon stick.

Ingredients you will need

Cinnamon Stick

Caramel Bits

Caramel

Cream

Salt

Equipment you will use

Whisk

Pour hot caramel over chocolate; stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.

Ingredients you will need

Chocolate

Caramel

Let stand until completely cool, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.

Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in chocolate mixture in 4 additions. Cover and refrigerate ganache overnight.

Ingredients you will need

Chocolate

Butter

Equipment you will use

Hand Mixer

Bowl

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in 1 cup brown sugar, then egg yolks and vanilla extract. Beat in chestnut spread, then milk. Sift dry ingredients over and gently mix together. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in another large bowl until soft peaks form.

Ingredients you will need

Vanilla Extract

Baking Powder

Brown Sugar

Egg Whites

Egg Yolk

Chestnuts

Butter

Spread

All Purpose Flour

Milk

Salt

Equipment you will use

Baking Paper

Hand Mixer

Baking Pan

Bowl

Oven

Add remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar and beat until stiff but not dry. Fold egg whites into batter in 3 additions.

Ingredients you will need

Brown Sugar

Egg Whites

Transfer batter to pan.

Equipment you will use

Frying Pan

Bake cake until golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 48 minutes.

Equipment you will use

Oven

Cut around cake to loosen. Cool cake completely in pan on rack.

Equipment you will use

Frying Pan

Stir brandy and brown sugar in small bowl until sugar dissolves.

Ingredients you will need

Brown Sugar

Brandy

Sugar

Equipment you will use

Bowl

Turn cake out onto work surface. Peel off parchment. Using long serrated knife, cut cake horizontally into 3 equal layers.

Equipment you will use

Serrated Knife

Place 1 cake layer, cut side up, on 8x8-inch cardboard square.

Brush cake layer with half of brandy syrup.

Ingredients you will need

Brandy

Syrup

Spread with 1 cup ganache.

Ingredients you will need

Spread

Sprinkle with half of chopped chestnuts. Top with second cake layer, cut side up. Repeat with remaining brandy syrup, 1 cup ganache, and remaining chopped chestnuts. Top with remaining cake layer, cut side up.

Ingredients you will need

Chestnuts

Brandy

Syrup

Spread remaining ganache over top and sides of cake.

Ingredients you will need

Spread

Place cake rack on sheet of foil; place assembled cake on rack. Chill while preparing glaze.

Ingredients you will need

Glaze

Equipment you will use

Aluminum Foil

Bring cream, sugar, and 1/4 cup water to boil in heavy medium saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves.

Ingredients you will need

Cream

Sugar

Water

Equipment you will use

Sauce Pan

Add chocolate and whisk until melted and glaze is smooth.

Ingredients you will need

Chocolate

Glaze

Equipment you will use

Whisk

Let cool until thick but still pourable, about 4 hours.

Pour glaze atop cake, spreading evenly over sides. Chill until glaze sets.

Ingredients you will need

Glaze

Brush 12 whole chestnuts with gold dust. Arrange chestnuts across top of cake. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate.

Ingredients you will need

Chestnuts

Let cake stand at least 4 hours and up to 8 hours at room temperature.)

Serve cake at room temperature.

*Sweetened chestnut spread is flavored with vanilla. It is available at specialty foods stores amd at some well-stocked supermarkets during the holidays. You can also order it from Joie de Vivre (800-648-8854; frenchselections.com).

Ingredients you will need

Chestnuts

Vanilla

Spread

**Whole chestnuts are sold in jars and in vacuum-packed pouches. Like the sweet chestnut spread, they are available at specialty foods stores and at some supermarkets during the holidays.

Ingredients you will need

Chestnuts

Spread

***Edible gold dust is available at many baking supply stores. You can order it from L'Epicerie (866-350-7575; lepicerie.com).

Ingredients you will need

Edible Gold