28 February 2009

Daring Bakers - February •



I am right under the wire this month with the Daring Bakers challenge. If one of your resolutions this year was to diet - stop reading right now! This challenge would definitely break that resolution. The flourless cake is very manageable and delicious. I made cherry vanilla ice cream with cherry sauce to accompany my very rich chocolate cake.

Flourless Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Valentino •

The February 2009 challenge is hosted by Wendy of WMPE's blog and Dharm of Dad ~ Baker & Chef.

We have chosen a Chocolate Valentino cake by Chef Wan; a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Dharm and a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Wendy as the challenge.

Chocolate Valentino
Preparation Time: 20 minutes

16 ounces (1 pound) (454 grams) of semisweet chocolate, roughly chopped
½ cup (1 stick) plus 2 tablespoons (146 grams total) of unsalted butter
5 large eggs separated

1. Put chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and set over a pan of simmering water (the bottom of the bowl should not touch the water) and melt, stirring often.
2. While your chocolate butter mixture is cooling. Butter your pan and line with a parchment circle then butter the parchment.
3. Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites and put into two medium/large bowls.
4. Whip the egg whites in a medium/large grease free bowl until stiff peaks are formed (do not over-whip or the cake will be dry).
5. With the same beater beat the egg yolks together.
6. Add the egg yolks to the cooled chocolate.
7. Fold in 1/3 of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture and follow with remaining 2/3rds. Fold until no white remains without deflating the batter. {link of folding demonstration}
8. Pour batter into prepared pan, the batter should fill the pan 3/4 of the way full, and bake at 375F/190C
9. Bake for 25 minutes until an instant read thermometer reads 140F/60C.
Note – If you do not have an instant read thermometer, the top of the cake will look similar to a brownie and a cake tester will appear wet.
10. Cool cake on a rack for 10 minutes then unmold.

Cherry-Vanilla Ice Cream •

2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
2/3 cup sugar
Dash of salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 - 3 drops almond extract
1/4 cup tart cherry juice
1/4 cup apple juice
1/3 cup chopped tart cherries

Mix all ingredients except cherries together. Make ice-cream following instructions of your ice-cream maker. In the last minute of churning, add cherries. Place in freezer until solid.

Tart Cherry Sauce •

1/2 cup tart cherry juice
1/2 cup apple juice
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 -3 drops almond extract

In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients. Cook slowly with low heat until thick and sauce is clear. Serve warm over ice cream and cake.

20 comments:

Heather said...

From one daring baker to another: YUMMY!! I love that combo, the cherry and chocolate, and you presentation was wonderful!!

Sara said...

Yum, this looks really tasty, especially the ice cream! I so envy your access to tart cherries....I can't find them anywhere! :)

Audax said...

I love love love cherries and you have two types of cherry treats. I just love the photos. Great job on this challenge. Yours from Audax in Australia.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful photo, and the pairing of the cake with all that cherry love is a great idea. The cherry ice cream looks amazing!

Angelica said...

The cherry vanilla ice cream looks delicious! good job on the challenge!

Anonymous said...

Your tart cherry sauce sounds so good!

Thistlemoon said...

That looks lovely! I love the cherries!!! I bet it was a wonderful combination!

Maggie said...

The cherry ice cream looks really fantastic!

Dragon said...

Cherry ice cream, yum! Great job on this month's challenge!

kat said...

I love the way the cherry looks with the dark chocolate

Susan @ SGCC said...

Your presentation looks beautiful, and that cherry-vanilla ice cream sounds just wonderful!

Olga said...

Love the combination of chocolate and cherries: yum!

Unknown said...

I think cherry would be very delicious with this cake! Nice job on this challenge.

ice tea: sugar high said...

yum yum yum.. choc & cherry are the best combined. beautiful presentation too!

grace said...

the cherry is an awesome choice to use as a mate for your chocolate cake, and this is the first of it that i've seen! really very nicely done.

Anonymous said...

WOW this is so pretty. am totally loving the layout :) x

Emily said...

It's gorgeous! That looks like one delicious slice of cake. I especially like the cherry sauce you used.

White on Rice Couple said...

Totally agree with may of the other comments, the cherry chocolate combo rocks. Well done. Todd.

Anonymous said...

I'm sitting over here in the dieter's corner but oh boy does your cake and ice cream look yummy! Nice job!

Dharm said...

How on earth did I miss you in February??!! Great job with this cake my dear and thanks for joining us! I actually came by looking for the cheesecake!!!