1 Bar German Sweet Chocolate
1/2 c Boiling water
2 oz Unsweetened chocolate
2 1/2 c Cake flour
1 ts Baking powder
1 ts Baking soda
1/2 lb + 3tbs butter
2 c Sugar
4 Eggs; separated
1 ts Vanilla
1 c Buttermilk
1 pt Whipping cream
4 tb Cocoa
2 tb Instant coffee
2 oz Semisweet chocolate
2 tb Orange liqueur; (or coffee
-or rum)
1/2 sm Jar apricot preserves
3 oz Slivered almonds; toasted
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3 eight or nine inch layer pans. Line
them with paper (parchment). Break German Chocolate bar into boiling water.
Cool. Melt the 2 squares of unsweetened chocolate in a double boiler. Sift
flour before measuring. Resift three times with baking powder and baking
soda. Cream butter(1/2 lb.) with sugar. Beat in egg yolks, add melted
German chocolate and vanilla. Add sifted dry ingredients, alternately with
buttermilk. Start and finish with dry ingredients. Beat egg whites until
peaks are firm, not dry. Fold into cake mixture. Divide batter among three
pans. On top of each pan, with a teaspoon, drip two concentric circles of
unsweetened chocolate. With tip of spoon, lightly swirl chocolate, so a
circular pattern forms over layer tops. Bake for about 30 minutes, until
cake starts to pull from sides. Cool on racks.
For filling: Whip cream, adding dry cocoa, dry instant coffee and sugar to
taste for a not too sweet mocha flavor.
For topping: Slowly melt semi sweet chocolate with liqueur. Remove from
heat. Beat in butter(3 tbs) a tablespoon at a time. Beat over ice water
until thick enough to spread lightly over top layer of cake.
To assemble: Cut layers in half horizontally. Spread every other layer with
apricot preserves. Spread five layer tops and sides with mocha cream Spread
topping on top layer. Decorate top and sides with toasted almonds.
Refrigerate.
Yields
1 Servings