Chocolate Chip Crème de Cacao Cake

May 15: National Chocolate Chip Day

Chocoholics will love this cocoa and cream liqueur cake studded with chocolate chips. Islander experimented with a devil’s food cake mix, substituting parts of the liquid with Crème de Cacao and adding chocolate chips in the batter for a decadent dessert. She also tweaked a whipped cream-based frosting recipe by flavoring it with more liqueur and even some packets of instant cocoa for a complementary icing. Finally, she made a rich chocolate frosting for the decorating details. We celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day with a blog recipe post for a cake made with a chock-full of chocolate chips both inside and out!

Recipe

For the cake

• 1 box (18.25 ounces) of devil’s food cake mix (we recommend Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Devil’s Food Cake Mix)
• 1 box (3.4 ounce) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup Crème de Cacao
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 small bag (6 ounces) chocolate chips

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, vanilla pudding mix, water, Crème de Cacao, oil and eggs. Mix until well blended. Fold in the chocolate chips. Pour the batter into a greased cake pan. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for about 45 minutes, checking periodically and testing for doneness. Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool completely.

For the Crème de Cacao frosting

(Adapted from Cake-Recipes)

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 2 packets of instant cocoa mix (or ¼ cup chocolate drink powder)
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• ¼ cup Crème de Cacao
• ½ teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Beat the cream until peaks form.  Gradually add the cocoa and sugar. Mix in the Crème de Cacao and vanilla until well blended and smooth. Chill to set before frosting the cake.

Decorate the sides of the cake with mini chocolate chips in a polka dot pattern, leaving space about an inch apart. Carefully mark the top of the cake with a toothpick and align the chocolate chips.  Refrigerate the cake until ready to pipe in the accent borders.

For the chocolate frosting

(Adapted from Baker’s)

• 4 squares of unsweetened chocolate (Baker’s brand)
• 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon Crème de Cacao
• 2 cups powdered sugar

Directions

In a large microwaveable bowl, melt the chocolate squares on high for about 1 ½ minutes. Stir until the chocolate chunks are melted and smooth. Cool slightly. Add the cream, butter, vanilla and Crème de Cacao and continue mixing. Gradually add the powdered sugar and beat well with an electric mixer. Fill a pastry bag with a decorator tip and pipe in the borders around the top and bottom edges of the cake. Refrigerate to set the frosting. Let the cake come to room temperature for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

• For a stronger Crème de Cacao flavor, randomly poke holes with a fork while the cake is still warm and drizzle about two tablespoons of liqueur over it. Cool completely to allow the flavors to seep inside.
• For a torte, slice the cooled cake into layers and triple the recipe for the Crème de Cacao icing.
• For the double-ruffled borders, tip 2D (large, drop flower tip) was used in a “squeeze-lift” motion around the edges of the cake.

Fruit Cocktail Cream

May 13: National Fruit Cocktail Day

When Islander was a little girl, she remembered her mom whipping up a quick, creamy confection using a can of fruit cocktail and offering it to our houseguests. This family tradition of hospitality has continued in our marriage, and we have served this fruit cocktail cream whenever we host visitors in our own home. Although it can be served in individual dessert cups, Highlander likes to carve out pineapple bowls for a more decorative display. Besides, the pineapple is a symbol of hospitality and adds a tropical touch to the table.

Recipe

(Inspired by Mommy)

Ingredients

• 2 small cans (15 ounces each) of fruit cocktail
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• ½ can sweetened condensed milk
• flaked coconut
• maraschino cherries, drained and rinsed

Directions

In a colander or sieve, drain the juice/syrup from the cans of fruit cocktail. In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese with condensed milk and stir until smooth. Add the drained fruit cocktail and toss lightly. Refrigerate until ready to fill individual dessert cups or pineapple bowls.

Make the pineapple bowls by slicing it in half from the crown down. Cut around the rim of the pineapples and remove the meat.  Scoop out the rest of the pineapple with a spoon. Drain the juice from the pineapple halves before filling them with the fruit cocktail cream. Sprinkle with coconut and arrange a few maraschino cherries on top. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

• Choose from a variety of canned fruit cocktail—tropical mixed fruit, very cherry, etc.— for a unique combination.
• Try pineapple-flavored cream cheese in the 8-ounce tub or pineapple-flavored yogurt for an enhanced pineapple taste.
• Use canned fruit cocktail packed in lite syrup or juice, fat-free cream cheese and fat-free sweetened condensed milk for healthier ingredients.

Butterscotch Chips Blondies

May 9: National Butterscotch Brownie Day

Blondie or brownie? No, this does not refer to Highlander and Islander’s hair or skin colors. Rather, it is about the confusing name for the dessert we are featuring for this blog recipe post—butterscotch chips blondies—on National Butterscotch Brownie Day. Blondies are basically lighter-colored brownies based on a brown sugar instead of chocolate flavoring. We added butterscotch chips to this recipe to differentiate this blondie from a chocolate chip brownie even more!

Recipe

(Adapted from Flora’s Recipe Hideout)

Ingredients

• ½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 2 cups packed light brown sugar (we used C&H brand golden brown sugar)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 package (11-ounce) butterscotch chips

Directions

In a medium bowl, sift the flour with salt and baking powder. In a large bowl, microwave the butter until melted. Stir in the brown sugar and vanilla. Then beat in the eggs until smooth.  Gradually add the flour mixture until well blended. Fold in the butterscotch chips.

Spread the batter into a generously greased 10-inch square pan. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes.  Cool completely before cutting into one-inch squares. Yield: 36 small blondies.

Notes

• Use a light-colored metal pan instead of a glass or dark pan for even baking.
• Add a cup of chopped nuts to temper the sweetness of the butterscotch in this recipe.
• Mix butterscotch chips with chocolate chips (white or dark) for a creative color combination.