Chocolate Cake for Birthday

Chocolate cake

Eid Mubaarak to all my readers.Finally after a long time I had got one holiday.The last holiday I got was in May for may day.I was tired and the eid holiday gave a so long cherished long weekend..Now I can happily blog :). I was so sick and tired of going to office and working everyday.The work pressure was so high and I was literally longing for a holiday.Last week was my dear hubby's birthday.Every birthday is special but this year the love of my life was turning 30! So I was excited and wanted to gift him something I never did before.I was inspired by the beautiful cakes made by my fellow bloggers and tried to give it a try! I always loved to bake tea cakes but I never made a cake with proper icing before.It is difficult to get whip cream in Bangalore which always discouraged me from making icing. So I decided to for a chocolate ganache cake with the easily available ingredients.Yet there is no compromise with the taste of the cake.Here goes the recipe.

Ingredients:

For the sponge cake:

I had made two cakes.The below measurements are given for each cake.

1. Maida  - 1 cup
2. Corn flour - 1 tbsp
3. Eggs - 2
4. Sugar - 1/2 cup
5. Oil - 1/4 cup
6. Chocolate powder - 2 tbsp(it is sweetened cocoa powder)
7. Baking powder - 1 tbsp
8. salt - a pinch
9. vanilla essence - few drops

For the Chocolate Ganache:

1. Chocolate - 1 cup grated( I have used 150 gm dark chocolate and grated it.Used 1 cup for making the ganache and the remaining for decorating the cake)
2. Fresh Cream - 3/4 cup (I have used Amul Fresh cream)
3. Butter - 2 tbsp(unsalted)

For the Sugar Syrup:

1. Sugar - 1/2 cup
2. Water - 1/2 cup

For the Butter Cream Frosting:

1. Butter - 1 tbsp
2. Castor Sugar - 2 tbsp
3. Fresh Cream - 1/4 tsp

Method:

Wet mix:

Separate the egg yolks from the white part of egg. Put the egg white in a large mixing bowl.I have found borosil ones are good for this purpose.

Now beat the egg white with the help of electric beater at the full speed till the egg whites form a soft peak.It will take 3-4 mins max if you have a electric beater.If you don't then you need to do all the hard work with a manual whisk and it may take 20 mins in this case.

Add the sugar,vanilla essence, egg yolks and oil.Mix them at the medium speed with the help of electric beater.

Dry Mix:

In another bowl sieve and mix maida,chocolate powder,corn flour,salt,baking powder together.

Gradually mix it with the wet mix and fold it with the help of a spatula.For 30 seconds I have run the electric beater at the lowest speed and mixed it without forming any lump. 

Chocolate cake

Now place a butter paper on the mold and grease it with little oil.Sprinkle some flour dust on that and then transfer the mix on top of that.

Bake it in a pre heated oven ( I have used OTG) for 25- 30 mins till a tooth pick comes out clean from the middle of the cake.

Chocolate cake

Now following the above recipe for each cake I had made two cakes.Let it cool and then take out the cake.Now with the help of a knife even out the top and sides of the cake.The tops should be flat.

Sugar Syrup:

heat the sugar with water till the sugar dissolves in water.

Make some wholes on the cake surface with the help of fork and then pour the sugar syrup on cakes.

Refrigerate the cakes.

Chocolate Ganache:

In a borosil container mix butter and cream.Give a whisk and mix it well. Micro oven at 90 degree for 2 mins.Take out the container and add the grated chocolate in it.Give a whisk and mix well.

Wait till the chocolate melts and whisk it lightly so that the texture becomes smooth and even.

Let it cool little bit.

Filling and Frosting:

When the ganache had cooled down little bit but still runny in consistency, I had used it as filling.Take some part of the ganache and spread it on top of one cake.Then place another cake on top of it.

Now refrigerate the ganache for 30 mins.Take out and check the consistency.At this point a spoon full of ganache should hold its shape.I had used it as frosting.

Spread the ganache on top and sides of the cakes and even it out.I don't have a spatula for this purpose so I had used one butter knife.

I had sprinkled the remaining grated chocolates on sides and the sides of top of the cake to cover up the imperfections and to make it look good. 

Chocolate cake

Now only one thing remaining was to write happy bday.It could have been done easily with the help of whip cream but as it is so difficult to find in India, I had used butter cream frosting.

Chocolate cake

For that I had added all the ingredients for butter cream frosting together and beat it with the help of electric beater at high speed for about 10 mins.The butter should change its color to white and it will increase the amount as well.This should be very light and fluffy with no grainy feel.

Chocolate cake

Now put it in a piping bag and write happy bday message :)

 And this is how the yummy cake looks after cutting.The moist and chocolate cake is perfect for a birthday treat! 

Chocolate cake

I am linking it with "Friends Forever" (Celebrating Friendship Day) event hosted by amrita from motions and emotions.