Page 88 - Chocolate Cake Doctor

70 L U S C I O U S L A Y E R S

and preheat the oven to 350°F. Gener-
ously grease three 9-inch round cake R
pans with solid vegetable shortening, then
dust with flour. Shake out the excess the Cake Mix Doctor says
flour. Set the pans aside.
By separating the eggs and folding
2. Break the German chocolate bar into
stiffly beaten whites into the batter,
small pieces. Turn on a food processor
you will get a taller and lighter cake.
and drop the pieces, a few at a time, into
There’s no need to add a pinch of
the processor through the feed tube.
cream of tartar to stabilize the whites,
Process until the chocolate is finely grated.
but if you are in the habit of doing so,
Set aside.
go ahead. The baked layers are able to
3. Turn the egg whites into a medium- stand up to the rich and heavy cooked
size mixing bowl and beat with an electric filling, and they look beautiful when
mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form, presented unfrosted, with just a
2 to 3 minutes. Set the bowl aside. sprinkling of confectioners’ sugar
on the top and sides.
4. Place the egg yolks, cake mix, butter-
milk, oil, cinnamon, allspice, and vanilla
in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an elec-
highest rack.
tric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds.
Stop the machine and scrape down the 5. Bake the cakes until they spring back
sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. when lightly pressed with your finger, 28
Increase the mixer speed to medium and to 30 minutes. Check the pan on the high-
beat 2 minutes more, scraping down the est rack first, as it will bake the quickest.
sides again if needed. The batter should
6. Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Place
look well combined. Fold the beaten egg
the eggs and sugar in a medium-size sauce -
whites and grated German chocolate into
pan off the heat. Whisk until the mixture
the batter with the rubber spatula. Divide
is lemon-colored and slightly thickened.
the batter among the prepared pans,
Add the prunes and raisins. Place the
smoothing it out with the rubber spatula.
saucepan over medium-low heat and cook,
Place the pans in the oven side by side; if
stirring constantly with a wooden spoon,
your oven is not large enough to accomo-
until the mixture thickens, 6 to 8 min-
date them, place two pans on the center
utes. Remove the pan from the heat and
rack and the third pan in the center of the