DONNA HAY CHOCOLATE BUTTERMILK LAYER CAKE - HAPPY BIRTHDAY ODEN AND HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL

This is my final entry for 2011, a moist chocolate cake by Donna Hay, cake was named Chocolate Buttermilk Layer. Originally the cake should be four layer, like the one highlighted in Australia Master Chef Program, but I made it two layer, easy to manage and for the topping I used ganache.

This chocolate cake is a big hit...many had tried, it's rich zesty-chocolaty sensation!

Ini N3 penutup buat tahun 2011. Esok  kita akan mula buka lembaran baru. Hari ini seperti yang saya maklumkan dalam N3 terdahulu adalah ulang tahun ke 20 anak teruna saya, Oden. Oden memang meminati chocolate cake..cukup suka. jadi kali ini saya buat chocolate kek, tapi menggunakan resipi yang baru bukan resipi yang selalu saya buat. Saya banyak blog walking dan setiap kali saya cuba mendapatkan sesuatu yang baru tentang chocolate kek pasti Chocolate buttermilk Layer cake Donna Hay yang disebut-sebut. Memang teruja juga dibuatnya...jadi saya mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mencuba. Kek ini sebenarnya 4 tingkat..tetapi saya tidak dapat bayangkan bagaimana saya hendak potong kalau sudah tinggi melangit jadi saya potong dua...tinggalkan dua tingkat..mudah untuk uruskanya nanti.

Menarik kek ini lapisanya menggunakan cream cheese frosting..untuk topping saya gunakan ganache sebab anak-anak suka ganache. Mengikut resipi asal mudah aje tak perlu dihias kek ini, sapu cheese frosting setiap lapisan sehingga ke lapisan atas cukup simple...bagi saya tidak arif bab-bab menghias kek ini saya gunakan lilin dan mainkan dengan chocolate siap... apa pun resipi ini memang sedap dan  saya bercadang hendak buat 4 tingkat seperti original resipi. Tunggu mungkin birthday Myraz nanti 6 hb Januari.

Selamat Tahun Baru bagi semua penghujung PATYSKITCHEN semoga tahun 2012 membawa lebih keberkatan dan kerahmatan buat semua.

Chocolate Buttermilk Layer Cake

(from Donna Hay, Donna Hay Magazine – 50th Issue Birthday)

Serves 6 to 8

• 1 cup (250 ml) water
• 125 g unsalted butter, chopped
• 1/3 cup (35 g) cocoa, sifted
• 2 cups (300 g) plain (all-purpose) flour, sifted
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of (baking) soda, sifted
• 2 cups (440 g) caster (superfine) sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 160° C (325° F).  Lightly grease 2, 18 cm round cake tins and line with parchment paper.
2. Place the water, butter and cocoa in a small saucepan over medium heat and stir until the butter has melted; set aside.
3. Using a fine-mesh sieve, sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl.  Add sugar and whisk to combine well.
4. Add the cocoa mixture and whisk to combine.  Add the eggs, buttermilk and vanilla and whisk to combine.
5. Divide batter evenly between the 2 cake tins.  Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in centre of cake comes out clean.
6. Allow to cool in the tins on a wire rack for 10 minutes.  Turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

(from Donna Hay, Donna Hay Magazine – 50th Issue Birthday)

• 100 g unsalted butter, softened
• 500 g cream cheese
• 2 cups (320 g) icing (confectioner’s) sugar, sifted
• 1/2 cup (50 g) cocoa, sifted

1. Place butter and cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium-high speed for 6 to 8 minutes or until pale and creamy.
2. Meanwhile, using a fine-mesh sieve, sift icing sugar and cocoa into a medium bowl. Repeat an additional 2 times.
3. Reduce stand mixer to low speed and gradually add the icing sugar, cocoa mixture.
4. Increase speed to medium-high and continue to beat for a further 6 to 8 minutes or until light and fluffy.

To Assemble Chocolate Buttermilk Layer Cake

1. Slice the cooled cakes in half horizontally.
2. Place one cake layer on a plate and spread with one quarter of the frosting. Repeat with the remaining layers and frosting.