Chocolate Genoise with Chocolate-Peppermint Ganache
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons dark creme de cacao
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Nonstick vegetable oil spray
- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cake flour
- 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 5 large eggs
- 1 large egg yolk
- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted, cooled
- 36 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 2 1/2 cups whipping cream
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Chocolate curls (about 6 ounces)
- Stir water and sugar in small saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves.
- Increase heat; boil.
- Remove from heat.
- Stir in creme de cacao and vanilla.
- (Can be made 1 week ahead.
- Cover; chill.)
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Butter and flour 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides; line bottom with parchment paper.
- Cover cake rack with paper towel; spray paper towel with nonstick spray.
- Sift flour, cocoa powder and baking soda into small bowl 3 times.
- Combine eggs, egg yolk, sugar and salt in large stainless steel bowl.
- {Step One} Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not let bottom of bowl touch water).
- Whisk until mixture is just warm to touch (thermometer will register 110F), about 2 minutes.
- Remove mixture from over water.
- {Step Two} Using electric mixer, beat until mixture triples in volume and falls in heavy ribbon when beaters are lifted, about 5 minutes.
- Beat in vanilla.
- Sift flour mixture over in 3 additions; fold gently to incorporate each time.
- Drizzle butter over and fold in (do not overmix or batter will deflate).
- Transfer batter to prepared pan.
- Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.
- Cut around pan sides; release sides.
- Turn cake out onto towel-covered rack; peel off parchment.
- Cool.
- (Can be made 1 day ahead.
- Wrap; store at room temperature.)
- Place chocolate in large bowl.
- Bring cream to boil in small saucepan.
- Pour cream over chocolate.
- {Step Three} Add corn syrup and extracts; whisk until smooth.
- Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally.
- Transfer 3 cups ganache to medium bowl.
- Using electric mixer, beat until very thick and light colored, about 12 minutes.
- Using long serrated knife, cut genoise horizontally into 3 layers.
- Place 1 cake layer on cardboard round or pan bottom.
- Brush cake with 3 tablespoons syrup.
- Spread 1/3 of whipped ganache over.
- Repeat 2 more times with remaining cake layers, syrup and whipped ganache.
- Spread 1 cup unwhipped ganache thinly over top and sides of cake.
- Refrigerate cake until coating sets, about 10 minutes.
- If necessary, warm remaining un-whipped ganache until just pourable.
- Place cake on rack set over sheet of foil.
- Pour ganache over cake as glaze, spreading to cover top and sides smoothly.
- Chill until glaze begins to set, about 30 minutes.
- Place cake on platter.
- Press chocolate curls onto sides.
- Chill at least 2 hours.
water, sugar, cacao, vanilla, vegetable oil spray, cake flour, cocoa, baking soda, eggs, egg yolk, sugar, salt, vanilla, unsalted butter, bittersweet, whipping cream, light corn syrup, peppermint, vanilla, chocolate curls
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/chocolate-genoise-with-chocolate-peppermint-ganache-5114 (may not work)