CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRY CAKE RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and 1 1/4 cups sugar. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk.
• In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar, 1 T. at a time, on high until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Fold into batter. Fold in strawberries.
• Pour into two greased and floured 9 inch round baking pans. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
• For frosting, in a large mixing bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and cocoa. Beat in butter and milk until smooth. Beat in vanilla.
• Spread frosting over bottom cake layer; top with sliced strawberries. Top with remaining cake layer; frost top and sides of cake. Dip whole strawberries into frosting; arrange around and on top of cake. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans, set aside.
• For chocolate covered strawberries:.
• In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding them by leaves, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture.
• Lay strawberries on wax paper to cool, set aside.
• For cake:.(to shorten time, you may substitute your favorite boxed strawberry cake mix).
• Sift together: flour, salt, and baking powder.
• In a separate bowl, combine butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
• Beat for 3 minutes.
• Combine flour mixture and butter mixture, along with crushed strawberries.
• Beat for 2 minutes.
• Pour batter into two 8-inch round greased and floured cake pans.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes, or until cake tests done.
• Turn out on to wire cooling racks to cool.
• For chocolate ganache:.
• Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil, watching very carefully because if it boils for a few seconds, it will boil out of the pot. When the cream has come to a boil, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until smooth.
• Allow the ganache to cool slightly before applying. For the bottom layer, start at the center of the cake and work outward. Place 2nd layer on top of 1st layer, and spread ganache on top of and to the sides of cake.
• Topping:.
• Arrange chocolate covered strawberries on top of cake.