On this very sensuous episode of Cooking on the Quad, Annie and Joel prepare some confections for the burgeoning romantic. First, Annie prepares a red velvet cake (shaped like a heart…how cute!) and Joel makes chocolate mousse, which Annie uses to top her cake. This cake is so delicious, you could share it with you valentine, or eat it all by yourself as you watch reruns of The Golden Girls.
Red Velvet Cake:
Preheat oven to 350.
In a large bowl, stir together 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, and 1 teaspoon salt. Set aside.
Beat 1 cup of softened butter in a large mixing bowl until creamy. Add 2 cups sugar and beat about 5 minutes until light and fluffy.
Add 2 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
In a separate glass, add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon red food coloring to 1 cup buttermilk. Alternate adding the flour and buttermilk to the butter/sugar mixture. Mix until just incorporated.
In a separate cup, combine 1/2 teaspoon baking soda with 1 tablespoon cider vinegar. Allow to foam, and once the foam has subsided, add it to the batter.
Grease two 8-inch cake pans. Divide the batter evenly between them, making sure the batter is distributed into all the edges. Bake 25-30 minutes.
Chocolate Mousse:
Melt 8 oz. semisweet baking chocolate with 1/2 stick butter in the microwave. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each cycle.
Separate 4 eggs, adding the yolks to the chocolate mixture and reserving the whites in a clean mixing bowl. Stir the yolks into the chocolate. Set aside.
In another large mixing bowl, whip 1 cup heavy cream with 2 tablespoons sugar until the cream holds its shape.
Clean you mixer (or whisk) and beat the egg whites until frothy. Once frothy, sprinkle in 6 tablespoons sugar as you continue to whip the whites until they form stiff peaks.
Stir 1/4 of the egg whites into the chocolate. Once that installment is incorporated, add another 1/4 of the egg whites, this time folding until combines. Repeat in small installments with the remaining egg white and whipped cream.
Refrigerate before enjoying.
Starring: Joel Kahn & Annie Rath
Camera: Gabe Stein
Editor: Joel Kahn
Music: Don Ward
Recipes adapted from Joyofbaking.com & Sprinkle Prints
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