Layered Truffle Cake

I first saw a picture of this recipe a few months ago on this website. The dessert looked so amazing, as if it had come right out of a pastry shop (which I tend to frequent too frequently). I was a bit hesitant to try it, never having made a sponge cake before but amazingly it turned out great! The cake was very moist, due to the Sponge Syrup and the frosting really is made from the same ingredients as the inside of a chocolate truffle. This recipe tastes great and looks great and yields 6 servings. Enjoy!

HELPFUL HINTS
1. There are some steps that need to be done at least the day before serving, plus it needs to refrigerate for 24 hours so make sure to read through the steps carefully so you don't end up behind.
2. I didn't want to have to mess with a pastry bag so I just used a ziplog bag and cut a small tip in one of the corners.
3. To garnish the dessert with words, simply melt white dipping chocolate in the microwave, place in a ziploc bag with a small tip cut from the corner, then write out the words. Cursive works best as the word stays together.

INGREDIENTS
Frosting
7 oz bittersweet dark chocolate chips
2.5 cups heavy cream

Sponge Cake
6 egg yolks
5 egg whites
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp.  cream of tartar
3 Tbs hot water
2 Tbs cocoa powder
5 Tbs cake flour
2 Tbs cornstarch

Sponge Syrup
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar

Dark Chocolate Glaze
1 tsp gelatin
1/4 cup heavy cream
5 Tbs sugar
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

DIRECTIONS
Frosting
1. In a saucepan, let the cream come to a boil.
2. Pour the cream over the chopped chocolate. Let stand for 1-2 minutes.



3. Mix with whisk, until mixture is thoroughly combined, forming a smooth ganache.



4. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold, preferably overnight.
5. When cold, whip to stiff peaks in a bowl of an electric mixer, starting from the lower setting and working up to the fastest as the cream stiffens. Once whipped, transfer to fridge until ready to use.



Sponge Cake
1. Heat oven to 375 F.
2. Line jelly-roll pan with foil and spray with nonstick spray. Set aside.



3. Sieve together cake flour and corn starch. Set aside.



4. In a bowl of a mixer, whip the egg yolks and sugar until doubled in size and pale in color.



5. In a small cup mix the cocoa and hot water.
6. With the mixer still running, add the cocoa mixture into the egg yolk mixture and whip for another 20 seconds, to combine.



7. Transfer the egg yolk mixture into a large bowl and thoroughly clean the mixer bowl.
8. In the bowl of a mixer, whip the egg whites with the cream of tartar until soft peaks.



9. In 3 additions, add the flour mixture into the egg yolk mixture, folding the flour in, being careful not to deflate the batter.



10. In 3 additions, add the the egg whites, also being careful not to deflate the batter.



11. Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan.



12. Bake for 8-9 minutes.
13. Remove the foil with the cake and let cool.
14. Line the pan with foil and spray with non stick spray. Pour the other half of the batter and bake for another 8-9 minutes. Also let cool.
15. Separate the cake from the foil and cut halfway horizontally and vertically. Repeat with the second cake layer.







Sponge Syrup
1. In a small saucepan mix together the water and sugar.
2. Let come to a boil without stirring, then let cool.

Pre-Assembly
1. Put a dab of frosting in the middle of the cake board or serving tray.
2. Place the first cake layer on top.



3. Cut out 4 strips of foil/parchment paper and place them under the edges of the cake so that they cover the rim of the cake board or the serving tray (makes for easy clean up when you’re done decorating).
4. Using a brush, soak the cake layer with the syrup.



5. Frost the cake with a thin layer of frosting.




6. Repeat with the rest of the cake layers, covering the last layer with frosting as well and reserving 1 cup of frosting for decorating.



7. Remove the foil/parchment paper strips from under the cake.
8. Place in the fridge until the glaze is ready to be poured over the cake top.



Dark Chocolate Glaze
1. Mix gelatin with water and let stand for 5 minutes, allowing the gelatin to bloom.
2. Combine the cream, sugar and cocoa in a saucepan and let come to a boil over medium heat.



3. Cook for 3 minutes past the boiling point, mixing with the spoon to prevent scorching.
4. Take off the heat, mix in the gelatin and mix thoroughly.
5. Let cool, until the glaze covers the back of the spoon.



6. Pour over the cake top right away, evening it out with a spatula.



7. Refrigerate the cake for 24 hours before cutting.



Final Assembly
1. Using a serrated knife, cut the edges of the cake making them even, wiping the knife after each cut and putting it in hot water before starting on the next cut.



2. Cut the cake in squares using the above mentioned method.



3. Place the reserved frosting in a pastry bag fitted with a simple round tip (1/3-1/2 wide).
4. Pipe a ‘drop’ of frosting in the corner of each cake square.

5. Garnish with white chocolate shapes or lettering if desired.