Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake with Ganache

Revisted a tried and true combination of chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and added a new twist of chocolate ganache.

Oreo Cheesecake

For my niece's birthday cake, I was inspired by the Oreo Dream Extreme cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory.  I knew I had to incorporate chocolate into her cake, as it was her favorite, but I didn't want it to be just a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.  The creamy cheesecake compliments the richness of all the chocolate components.

Oreo Cookie Crust

Layer of Oreos

Original New York Cheesecake

Chocolate Mousse

Next time, I cannot forget to line the pan with parchment paper.  Because I didn't line the pan, I was afraid that it would just fall apart if I attempted to remove the disk.  Hence, the cake was presented with the disk still attached.  Not a big deal this time around as I attended her party and served the cake myself.

Vanilla Bean Macarons with Dark Chocolate Ganache

After reading through numerous step by step tutorials on baking macarons, I finally got enough courage to tackle the infamous high maintenance macarons.  They weren't difficult to make at all.  They just required a few extra steps even before getting started: making vanilla sugar a week in advance, aging the egg whites for 24-48 hours, and definitely, owning a scale to weigh all the ingredients.

I couldn't believe I actually had macarons with feet!  A few things I learned along the way: I should've sifted the ground almonds as I still had a few chunks after pulsing for a few minutes and I need a better handle on using the piping bag as I piped a few HUGE macarons.

Vanilla Bean Macarons with Dark Chocolate Ganache
Adapted from Helen Dujardin (Tartlette)'s Demystifying Macarons article in Desserts Magazine


Macarons
90 - 100 grams of egg whites (3 eggs)
50 grams granulated sugar stored for 1-2 weeks with a split vanilla bean
200 grams powdered sugar
110 grams blanched slivered almonds

In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment whip the egg whites to a foam, gradually add the sugar until you obtain a glossy meringue.

Combine the almonds and the powdered sugar in a food processor and give them a quick pulse if you use already ground almonds.  It will break the powdered sugar lumps and combine your almonds with it evenly.  If you use whole almonds, pulse thoroughly for a minute or so.

Add them to the meringue and start to give quick strokes at first to break down the mass and slow down.  The whole process should not take more than 50 strokes.  Test a small amount on a plate: if the tops flatten on its own, you are good to go.  If there is a small beak, give the batter a couple more folds.

Fill as pastry bag fitted with a plain tip with the batter and pipe small rounds (1.5 inches in diameter) onto silpat baking mats.

Preheat the oven to 300F degrees.  Let the macarons sit out for 30 minutes to harden their shells a bit and bake for 10-12 minutes, depending on their size.  Let them cool completely before filling.

  Pipe or spoon some of the ganache on one shell and sandwich with another one.


Dark Chocolate Ganache
4 ounces of bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
3/4 cup of heavy cream

In a heavy saucepan, set over medium heat, bring the heavy cream to a boil.


Remove from the stove and add the chocolate to it.  Let stand 2 minutes and then stir until fully combined.


Let cool until firm enough to put in a small piping bag.