Kaf Chocolate Cassata Cake
This came in my latest King Arthur Flour magazine and descriped as "version of the traditional Sicilian desert changed up to a dense chocolate cake, filled with sweetened ricotta cheese and chocolate chips, and iced with creamy fudge frosting. Besides sounding awesome to us chocolate lovers it looks pretty too.
READY IN: 1hr 50mins
SERVES: 8-12
YIELD: 8-12 slices
UNITS: US
INGREDIENTS
NutritionCake
- 4
- 10 1⁄2ounces sugar
- 3⁄4teaspoon salt
- 2teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1⁄4teaspoon baking powder
- 1tablespoon espresso powder (optional)
- 2ounces Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- 3large eggs
- 5 1⁄4ounces unbleached all-purpose flour
- 6ounces milk
Filling
- 15 -16
- 1 3⁄8ounces confectioners' sugar
- 1teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips, mini chocolate chips preferred
- 1ounce simple syrup, to brush on cake (optional)
Frosting
- 3ounces cocoa
- 3ounces confectioners' sugar
- 1⁄2teaspoon espresso powder (optional)
- 4ounces heavy cream
- 4
- 4
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DIRECTIONS
- CAKE:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F Lightly grease an 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" loaf pan.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, salt, vanilla, baking powder, espresso powder, and cocoa to make a sandy, somewhat clumpy mixture. Don't worry; the eggs will smooth things out.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl midway through this process.
- Add half the flour to the bowl, beating at low speed to combine.
- Add all of the milk, beating at low speed to combine.
- Add the remaining flour, beating gently just until the batter is smooth.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake the cake for about 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The top may look a tiny bit damp; that's OK. If you have an instant-read thermometer, the center will register 210°F to 215°F, while just under the top will register about 198°F to 200°F.
- Remove the cake from the oven, loosen the edges, wait 10 minutes, and turn it out of the pan onto a rack to cool.
- Store completely cooled cake well wrapped, at room temperature, until ready to fill and frost.
- FILLING:
- Stir together the ricotta, sugar, vanilla, and chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Frosting:
- Sift the cocoa, confectioners' sugar, and espresso powder into a bowl.
- Bring the cream to a simmer on the stove or in the microwave, and whisk into the cocoa mixture. At first the mixture will look grainy; continue whisking for a minute. You'll see the lumps disappear as the sugar dissolves and the cocoa hydrates.
- Set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Place the butter, salt, and sifted confectioners' sugar in a large mixing bowl.
- Beat until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla.
- With the mixer running on low speed, add the cocoa mixture a spoonful at a time until it's all incorporated. Scrape the bowl, then beat at medium speed for 1 minute.
- Assemble Cake:
- Split the cake in thirds lengthwise, to make 3 layers. Brush the cut side of each layer with simple syrup or vanilla syrup; this will help keep the cake moist.
- Place the bottom layer on a serving plate. Spread with half the ricotta filling. Top with the second layer, and spread with the remaining filling. Place the third layer on top.
- Ice the cake — top and sides — with the frosting.
- Serve immediately; or refrigerate, well-wrapped, until ready to serve, preferably not longer than 24 hours. Cut in crosswise slices to serve.
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