Chef
Jamie McFadden's Best Valentine's Day Dessert
By FBWorld Team
For
Valentine's Day, preparing a candlelit dinner for two
can be an intimately romantic gesture. According to Chef
Jamie McFadden of Cuisiniers Catering & Events, keep
the menu simple but elegant, with dishes like a mixed
green salad with roasted beets and goat cheese, crab cakes,
herb roasted tenderloin, and seasonal vegetables. The
highlight of the meal, however, is always the dessert.
A dark chocolate cake with rich, creamy ganache is the
ultimate indulgence.
Chef
Jamie's Decadent Chocolate Ganache Cake
by
Chef Jamie McFadden
Makes:
8-10 servings
Ingredients:
1/4 lb. Unsalted Butter (at room temperature, 72 degrees)
1 cup Sugar
2 tspn. Salt
5 large eggs
1 each 16 oz. jar Dark Chocolate Syrup
1 tbls. Pure Vanilla Extract
1 cup All-Purpose Flour
For
the Chocolate Ganache:
1/2 cup Heavy Cream
8 oz. Premium Semisweet Chocolate Chips
1 tspn. Instant Coffee Granules
Procedures:
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2.
Butter and flour an 8-inch round cake pan, then line the
bottom with parchment paper.
3.
Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric
mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and
fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, followed by the salt.
Mix in the chocolate syrup and vanilla. Slowly add the
flour and mix until just combined. Do not over mix, or
the cake texture will be tough.
4.
Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes,
or until just set in the middle. Take caution to not over
bake. Let cool thoroughly in the pan.
5.
For the ganache, on medium low heat cook the heavy cream,
chocolate chips, and instant coffee in the top of a double
boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, stirring
occasionally.
6.
Place the cake upside down on a wire rack and pour the
glaze evenly over the top, making sure to cover the entire
cake and sides. You can tilt the rack to smooth the glaze.
Decorate with fresh strawberries or black berries if desired,
or gently crumble shaved white chocolate over the cake.
7.
Do not refrigerate and serve within 3 hours. If you must
make the cake ahead of time, refrigerate overnight up
to 3 days, making sure to remove from refrigerator 1 hour
before serving.
Other
Related Links:
Valentine's
Day Recipes: Spicy Crab Fondue
Valentine's
Day Pale Ale Cheese Fondue
Valentine's
Day Recipes: Molten Merlot Cakes
Valentine's
Day Chocolate Rum Fondue
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