Thursday, July 28, 2011

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake


This cake fell more into the category of hot mess than epic win.....I will comfort myself with the fact it tasted good...ehehehehe.  It should actually be a three tiered cake.  There was an "incident" that left me short one tier.  Momma didn't name me Grace for a reason....snicker.

So I decided to try making some marshmallow cream for my frosting.  I've made marshmallows.....a little adjusting of the recipe and I should be able to get a cream easy peasy.  Simple, right?  Simple until I over thought it.  I was going to halve the gelatin, but 1 1/2 envelopes gelatin didn't seem very tidy so I went with 2 envelopes...which was still on the firm side.  It wouldn't have mixed easily with the cream cheese to form a smooth frosting....which led to tinkering.  The end result was useable and darn tasty, but not the firm frosting I was shooting for.

I did have a neat mix of textures in the cake.  The firm chocolate garnish, creamy frosting, dense cookie layers with mini chocolate chips that gave it a bit of a crunch.


Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

1 3/4 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp soda
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup butter
1 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup dried cherry cranberries

Beat butter and sugars together in a bowl.  Add in eggs and vanilla.  Mix in flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.  Fold in chocolate chips and dried cranberries.

Divide dough into thirds and spread into greased 8 inch rounds.  Bake at 350 for 12 to 15 minutes, or until done.  Cool.


Cherry Marshmallows

1 cup water
2 1/4oz envelopes unflavored gelatin
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup corn syrup
1/4 tsp salt
1 pk Black Cherry Kool-Aid

Pour 1/2 cup water into a large bowl.  Mix Kool-Aid into water.  Sprinkle gelatin over water.  Let this mixture sit while you cook the syrup.

Combine 2 cups sugar, corn syrup, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup water in a saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves.  Boil, without stirring, until syrup reaches 240°.

With mixer on low speed, carefully pour hot syrup into gelatin mixture in a slow, thin stream.  Gradually increase speed to high and beat until mixture is very thick.  Let stand for a while to set up.


Icing:

Cherry Marshmallows
1/4 cup butter
4 cups powdered sugar
12oz milk chocolate, melted
16oz reduced fat cream cheese

Heat the marshmallows and the butter together in the microwave until smooth.  Beat in cream cheese and melted milk chocolate.  Add in powdered sugar, one cup at a time.  Chill frosting.

Place one cookie round on a plate.  Spread frosting across top and place a second round over the frosting.  Spread frosting across top and add final round on top.  Frost top and sides of cake.  Garnish with additional melted chocolate.


Never take pictures outside when it's the surface of the sun hot.  My chocolate went instantly melty and my frosting.....already less firm than I wanted....slid a bit.


A bit of a slump to this piece of cake...where's my cake eating blindfold?  I don't want to spoil my enjoyment of good cake by being critical of the view.  ;)

42 comments:

  1. Looks amazing, I just want a slice, or more, thats all:) Slightly melted cake would make it taste even more delicious

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looks perfect to me! Delicious - wish I had a slice with my coffee.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think it looks pretty awesome, actually...but if you want me to close my eyes, I'd do that. Set a big slice in front of me, I'll eat it! :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jummie!! No need for a blindfold. I might drop a piece and waste a bite! Or even worse, someone can steal a bite from me. Blindfold = bad idea =)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Marshmallow icing sounds incredible! I think the "slump" makes it look even more delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Even with 2 layers and its inperfections it looks delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Tasting good is the best part and I am sure that this cake was delicious with all those yummy ingredients. Sometimes we are torn between posting and not posting something that is not picture perfect. I am glad you posted this one!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow, it looks amazing! I wouldn't have known it was a hot mess if you hadn't said anything!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Well I am so glad that the tier thing didn't happen, that you did the marshmallow icing - and even on a hot day like this, it just makes it all the more frustratingly mouthwatering to stare at on screen. It looks fabulous! Love the squiggles as decor. You should make this again for a cobweb effect at Hallowe'en. It's wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  10. You are making me drool! This looks so delicious!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a great cake. With that many fantastic ingredients I think you can overlook the slump. YUM!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think it looks great! Nice and moist and chocolatey to the max!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Looks amazing! Never would have known it was a hot mess!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh My.. it's looking great! you always come out with wonderful cake recipe B.. Love it! ^,^

    ReplyDelete
  15. I think it looks pretty darn good... and you said it tastes great, and that makes it a winner to me! I especially love the frosting! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. This looks like a hot mess I want to EAT!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Good things about it not being as beautiful as you might have liked - there's no reason to take it out and show it off. Keep that tasty looking baby all to yourself. YUM!

    ReplyDelete
  18. No blindfold required - it looks scrumptious! Love the decoration too - well done :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. It's so disheartening when you are trying to photograph something 'delicate' in this heat! But it wouldn't matter to me. The minute my fork hit my mouth with this one...I'd be shutting my eyes in ecstasy! I think it's beautiful! : )

    ReplyDelete
  20. See just don't tell any one that it should be three tiers and we won't know at all. We'll just go by taste and look.

    ReplyDelete
  21. You are so funny!!! You must be your worst critic...the cake looks absolutely droolworth, and beautiful. Love the marshmallow yummy frosting, the drizzle, and the slumping of the frosting photo in the sun...LOL this also happened to me too when I was taking picture outside, literally oozing down the cake.
    Love the cake, and thanks for sharing your amazing recipe:DDD

    ReplyDelete
  22. Bring on the hot mess!! Baby, that looks amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Save me a slice!! This is cherry-chocolate decadent goodness. Luv the idea of the cherry marshmallows, I'm definitely giving that a try.

    Have a great weekend! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  24. This cake is super amazing, I live the drizzle on top its just perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  25. If this cake is a hot mess then it is a delicious one ;)! I think it looks decadent and scrumptious! I would love a big slab!

    ReplyDelete
  26. One word for that cake: GOOEY. But in a good way. Love how you caught on the kitchen accidents.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Tempting and delicious! I want to have a slice please...

    ReplyDelete
  28. This cakes should be called "Chocolate Spiderman Cake". My sons were thrilled to see the photo :-)!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Don't be critical, let's just eat cake! I love all the yumminess going on here.

    ReplyDelete
  30. It is a benevolent universe and here's why: we were hit by lightning and every modem, router and phone line was deep fried resulting in being off line for almost a week (I know you can imagine how frustrating this is). Finally back on line one of the first things we see is this beautiful and delicious cake, and all the anger and aggravation just melts way like this cake's icing in Adam's mouth... life is good again!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Beautiful cake and so moist and creamy. Now I am craving for chocolates.

    ReplyDelete
  32. This is amazing. And you should consider this a win and not a fail. It looks so tasty and decadent. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  33. What a beautiful cake!!! This is gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hot mess or not, you had me at cookie cake :D

    ReplyDelete
  35. Oh this looks good :) one more tempting chocolaty cake!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Holy wow! I need a slice! That is amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Ooooh how beautiful! I would love a slice...looks truly splendid!

    Tammy♥

    ReplyDelete
  38. This cake is SO NOT a hot mess my friend! It is chocolately goodness!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Wow, love all that chocolate decoration on top.

    ReplyDelete