Chocolate Harvest Cake

This elegant chocolate cake is a showstopper

wherever it goes.  It takes a few steps, but

none of the steps are hard. 

Add this to your Fall recipes.

My sister Joni at Red Couch Recipes moved from

 California years ago and was now closer to me.

While in California she and her husband lived with her

husband's uncle, Uncle Bill.  Uncle Bill and Joni would

watch the Martha Stewart Show and then they would

have "Martha Stewart Day".  They would make things

they saw on the show. 

When Joni came here, she and I started to do

"Martha Stewart Day".  This Harvest Cake was

featured in a magazine and we decided to make it.

Now we make it every year.

Joni and I got together this Fall to make one.  We

decided to post it on the same day.

Tips for a Showstopper Cake

1.  Make 3 layers (1 1/2 recipes so it is tall)

2.  Line bottom of pan only with parchment 

paper.  Don't grease sides.  This       

lets the cake rise evenly.  Run knife  

around pan edge when baked and   

cooled for 10 minutes.  Turn out on 

cooling rack.

3.  Wait until cake is cooled to frost!!!      

4.  Make sure frosting and filling are soft   

   enough to spread.  If your cake starts

      to fall apart as you spread the frosting,  

  stop and add a little more liquid, only

1/2 tablespoon at a time.

5.  Spread filling to within 1/2 inch of the

 edge, otherwise it will squeeze out.

 6.  Use 3-4 bamboo skewers to hold all 

3 layers together, cutting so that  

they don't show above the top    

layer.

7.  Cover cake with a crumb coat.      

Use a flat metal spatula.     

8.  Frost sides first, then top, place     

 a knife full of frosting about mid-

way up the side, then slide the   

frosting almost to the bottom,  

then spread frosting up and let

it extend above the top just a  

bit so when you frost the top  

 you have a lip to meet up with. 

9.  When you have covered it with   

frosting, use the back of a spoon

     to add the desired texture and swirls.

Harvest Cake Recipe

3 layers chocolate cake, using your favorite recipe

(Hint, if you have time, your cake will be more

moist if you place each cooled layer in a ziploc

bag and place in the freezer overnight.  It also

makes it easier to cover with the crumb coating.

1 recipe Chocolate Butter Cream

1 recipe Chocolate Ganache

2 -  7 oz. tubes Marzipan

(Hint, squeeze the prepared marzipan tubes

before purchasing to make sure they are

fresh and soft.)

Paste Food Coloring

Cocoa Powder

Powdered Sugar

Assembly: 

On desired cake plate, put a few tablespoons buttercream

to anchor the cake.  Lay one cake, top side down, cover

with a thick layer of buttercream, stopping 1/2 inch away

from edge.  Top with second layer, bottom side down,

cover with buttercream.  (Trim the top of this layer if

necessary to make it level.)  Top with final layer, bottom

side down.  Cover with chocolate buttercream, making it

smooth.  Frost with chocolate ganache.

Decorate with marzipan fruit and vegetables.  Dust with

powdered sugar and cocoa powder.

Chocolate Buttercream

3/4 C. softened butter

4 C. powdered sugar

1/2 C. cocoa powder

1 tsp. vanilla

3-4 T. water ( add more if necessary)

Beat all ingredients with your mixer in a large

bowl.  Add water slowly and add additional if

needed.  Frosting needs to be soft and fluffy.

Chocolate Ganache

3 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 C. heavy whipping cream

Heat the cream just until bubbles form around the edge.

Place the chips in a bowl and pour the cream over the

chips.  Stir until melted.  Continue to stir until it is the

consistency of frosting.

Marzipan Pumpkins and Fruit

7 oz. tube marzipan (found in your baking aisle)

paste food coloring (found at craft stores)

Pinch off desired amount of marzipan and use the

paste coloring to color it.  It is nice to use gloves

while doing this so your hands don't get colored.

Shape the fruit and vegetables, using toothpicks to

add detail.  Curl the vines around toothpicks.

Wouldn't this be fabulous on your Thanksgiving

table?

Give this recipe a try for the Fall. 

I will be posting this on

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