Page 13 - Valetine Cake - Cookie - Candy Cookbook: Best Valentines Day Cookbook

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch
heart-shaped pan with butter and dust with some extra bread

crumbs.

Step 2

Cream 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon butter in a bowl with an electric
mixer; mix in 2/3 cup white sugar and vanilla sugar. Add eggs one at
a time, beating well after each addition, until light and foamy.

Step 3

Place 5 ounces chocolate in top of a double boiler over simmering

water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula
to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Cool
for a few minutes, then blend into egg mixture. Mix almond meal with

bread crumbs and fold into the chocolate batter. Pour batter into the
prepared pan.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven on the lowest rack for 45 minutes.
Remove from oven and cook completely, about 1 hour. Remove from
pan.

Step 5

Place 5 ounces chocolate in top of a double boiler over simmering

water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula
to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Cool
for a few minutes, then mix in confectioner's sugar.

Step 6

Cream 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter in a bowl with an electric

mixer until creamy. Stir in chocolate-sugar mixture and almond
extract until ganache is smooth.

Step 7

Cut heart cake horizontally into 2 layers. Cover the bottom layer with
some chocolate ganache and place second layer on top. Cover heart

on all sides with remaining chocolate ganache.