My grandmother taught me the tricks to making this cake, and I've added my own special touches. The melted chocolate keeps the icing from being too dry and gives it a texture similar to chocolate ice cream. I have more requests for the icing than I do anything else!
By Susan Hayes
Massapequa, New York
Chocolate-Cherry Brownie Cake Recipe
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 45 min. Bake: 1 hour + cooling
MAKES: 12 servings
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Ingredients
1-1/4 cups shortening
2-3/4 cups sugar
5 large eggs
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon cherry extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup heavy whipping cream
CHOCOLATE CHERRIES:
1 jar (10 ounces) maraschino cherries with stems
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon shortening
FROSTING:
1 cup butter, softened
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon cherry extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3-3/4 to 4 cups confectioners' sugar
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 10-in. fluted tube pan.
- [post_ads]In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in melted chocolate and extracts. In another bowl, whisk flour, salt and baking powder; add to creamed mixture alternately with cream, beating well after each addition.
- Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs (do not overbake). Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Drain cherries, reserving 3 tablespoons juice for frosting; pat cherries dry with paper towels. In a microwave, melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip cherries in chocolate mixture; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set.
- For frosting, in a large bowl, beat butter until creamy. Add melted chocolate and extracts. Beat in confectioners’ sugar alternately with reserved cherry juice, adding enough confectioners' sugar to reach desired consistency; beat until smooth. Frost cake. Serve with chocolate cherries. Yield: 12 servings.
Editor’s Note: To remove cakes easily, use solid shortening to grease plain and fluted tube pans.
Courtesy: Taste of Home
