Rasaswad

This one is inspired by modifying a couple of recipes...it was a wonderful trip down the memory lane, thinking about Monginis Black Forest Cakes on New Year's Eve... The cake: 1 1/2 cup A.P. flour. + 1/2 cup coco powder (Hersheys pure) + 1 cup sugar + 1/4 tsp salt. Sift all these ingredients into a bowl. Add 3 tbs melted butter + 3 tbs vegetable oil + 1 tbsp sour cream + 2 tbsp yoghurt + 1 tsp vanilla + 3 tbsp hot water, and whisk well. Now add 1 tbs white vinegar, mix. Mix 1 1/2 tsp baking soda + 3 tbs warm water. Add to the batter, mix and divide into two prepared (buttered and floured) 9" pans. Bake at 350 for about 20 mins (till testers come out clean). Cool on a rack. Notes: The ingredient list is a little cumbersome, but they all kind of play an important role, especially since this is an eggless cake. The butter gives a good taste, but oil makes the cake more moist. sour cream (which is kinda optional) and yoghurt also helps make it moist, yoghurt also provides some pro...

I made this once for L. on his birthday. He made it once for mine. The frostings were different (I did an elaborate orange curd butter cream , he did a chocolate ganache). We love this cake layer recipe. Recipe from Epicurious . For cake layers * 3 ounces fine-quality semisweet chocolate such as Callebaut * 1 1/2 cups hot brewed coffee * 3 cups sugar * 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour * 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process) * 2 teaspoons baking soda * 3/4 teaspoon baking powder * 1 1/4 teaspoons salt * 3 large eggs * 3/4 cup vegetable oil * 1 1/2 cups well-shaken buttermilk * 3/4 teaspoon vanilla For ganache frosting * 1 pound fine-quality semisweet chocolate such as Callebaut * 1 cup heavy cream * 2 tablespoons sugar * 2 tablespoons light corn syrup * 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter Special equipment * two 10- by 2-inch round cake pans print a shopping list for this recipe Preparation Make cake l...