1/4 c Sugar. 2 ts Vanilla extract : 1/3 cup
4 oz Unsweetened chocolate : 1 -plus 2 tbsp. cocoa powder
-tbsp. all purp. flour 2 c Buttermilk, at room temp. :
2 1/2 c Sifted cake flour : Speck of -1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter,
-Salt -softened
2 ts Baking powder : 1/2 cup plus : DATE FILLING
-2 tbsp. chopped black -: 1 egg white
3/4 ts Salt : walnuts or pecans 1 c Milk : 1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c (1 stick) butter, softened : -extract
-1 tsp. vanilla extract 1/2 c Chopped dates : 1/4 tsp.
2 c Granulated sugar : FUDGE -salt
-FROSTING 1 Egg : 5 tbsp. evaporated
2 Eggs : 1 pound -mi?lk
-confectioners’ sar
Serves 12
“The date filling makes this special, and the frosting is unusually good.
Because the cake has a custard filling, it needs to be kept refrigerated.”
Preheat oven to 350 F. Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler
over barely simmering water (or in the microwave). Sift the flour, baking
powder, and salt together. In a large mixer bowl, cream the butter and
sugar until the mixture is fluffy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well
after each addition. Blend in the melted chocolate and vanilla. Add the
dry ingredients to the chocolate mixture, alternating with the buttermilk
and beginning and ending with the flour. Do not overbeat.
Pour the batter into three 8 inch buttered cake layer pans. Bake for 25 to
30 minutes, or until the cake has shrunk away a bit from the sides of the
pans and the tops spring back when touched with your finger. Allow to stand
in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool. While the cakes
are cooling, prepare the filling and frosting.
To make the filling, heat the milk and dates in the top of a double boiler
over hot water until the milk is scalded. Beat the egg, then add the
sugar, flour, and salt; beat again. Add 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture to
the egg mixture, then stir back into the pan and cook for 3 minutes, until
thick, stirring with a rubber spatula. Let cool. Add the nuts, and
vanilla. Refrigerate for 1-1/2 hours before filling the cake.
To make the frosting, combine all the ingredients in a large mixer bowl.
Beat on high speed for 1 minute, or until the frosting is light and creamy.
To assemble, place 1 cake layer on a large plate and cover to within 1/4
inch of the edge with half the chilled filling. Top with another cake
layer and the remaining filling mixture. Finish with the last cake layer.
Frost the sides and top of the cake with the fudge frosting forming swirls
on the top with a knife. Refrigerate, but bring to room temperature before
serving.
Yields
12 servings