Bongtaste : Hidden Hearts Chocolate Cake

Those cake is the perfect treat for your loved ones on Valentines day or Anniversary or any other day. On the outside, it looks like just an ordinary chocolate cake. But inside, it hides a sweet little heart that will make your loved ones happy. I placed two hearts for my hubby and daughter to give them surprise. If you wish you can place only one heart.

We take two small pieces of cake from each slice, so you will have some excess , Don't need to worry,you can make nice cake balls using those excess . Please check the link Cake Balls

If you do not want to use color then skip the red color and keep the hearts white.I made it for valentines day so used red food color.

The chocolate batter should preferably be a pound cake batter, only then the hearts placed inside will not move and will stand in place.

Making of red cake (heart portion)

Ingredients
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All Purpose flour-1 cup
Baking powder-1tsp
Baking soda-1 pinch
Granulated Sugar-3/4 cup
Eggs -2 (Vegetarians people can add 1/3 cup beaten yogurt or 1/2cup condensed milk instead of using eggs)
Milk-1/4 cup
Vegetable Oil-1/2 cup
Vanilla Essence -2 tsp
Red color - for drops

Preheat the oven to 180 degree C for 10 minutes.
Grease the cake tin with vegetable Oil.
In a large bowl add together all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and mix well.
Take another big bowl, add sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla essence. eggs or beaten yogurt or condensed milk, milk,mix them very well until become a creamy texture.
Add flour mixture slowly to the liquid mixture, and then fold with spatula . Do the process until the dry and wet ingredients are well combined.Add food color and mix well.
Pour the batter in the greased pan,tap the pan a couple of times so the batter is spread evenly and there are no air bubbles.
Bake for about 40 minutes,or insert a toothpick,if inserted toothpick comes out clean then your cake is ready. Your red cake is ready, allow to cool it.
Turn onto a plate,wrap with a cling firm and keep in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Take out the cake from refrigerator and cut into thick slices.

Using a small heart shaped cookie cutter, cut the one or two hearts from each slice.(save any remaining cake for cake balls ).

How to make chocolate cake
Preparation Time-15 Minutes
Baking Time-45 Minutes

Ingredients of making chocolate cake
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All purpose flour (maida) - 1.5 cups
Cocoa powder - 1/2 cup
Baking powder - 1.5 tsp
Vegetable oil-1/2 cup
Granulated sugar - 1 cup
Eggs -3 (Vegetarians people can add 1/4 cup beaten yogurt or 3/4 cup condensed milk instead of using eggs)
Milk-1/4 cup

Method of making chocolate cake
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Preheat the oven to 180 C/350 F. Grease and line with butter paper a loaf pan .

In a bowl, beat the oil and sugar until it's light and fluffy.

Add the eggs one by one, and milk and beat again.

Sift in the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder in a bowl.Mix well.Then add this dry mixture little by little to wet mixture and fold gently.

Fill 1/4 of the greased loaf pan with the chocolate batter and tap well to even it out.

Now place the hearts next to each other. Pack them close. Leave a bit of gap at both corners for the chocolate batters to flow through.

After the hearts are placed, add the remaining chocolate batter over the hearts and around the hearts.Cover the hearts with chocolate batter with a spoon .

Fill the pan gently and tap gently so that the batter flows all around the hearts.

Bake in the pre heated oven for 45 to 50 minutes.

The cake is done when a tooth pick or skewer comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes and then remove to a cooling rack.

After one hour frost the cake with chocolate ganache and sprinkles if you wish.

How to make chocolate ganache
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Ingredients of making chocolate ganache
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Dark chocolate-100 grams(broken into pieces )
Heavy cream -1 cup
Butte-1 tablespoon

Method of making chocolate ganache
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Place the broken chocolate into a medium bowl. Make sure chop the chocolate into small pieces so it will melt easily.

Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. When the cream has come to a boil, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until melted and smooth.Add butter and mix well.

Allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring over a cake.

Take a grill rack of oven,put the rack on a big plate,place the cake on the grill wrack.Pour the ganache over the cake,start at the center of the cake and work outward.

Microwave method of making chocolate ganache
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For the chocolate ganache, melt the chocolate on half power for approximately 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until melted. Add the cream and butter and mix thoroughly until smooth and glossy.

Once the cake is cool, spread over the ganache. Decorate with sprinkle .

Want to know more cakes and cookies recipe, please click the link Cakes n Cookies