MARTHA STEWART FIRST BOOK RECIPES

Steps:

• Whipped cream: Fill a large bowl with ice water. In a small, heavy pot, stir together granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons water; heat over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved. Continue to cook, swirling occasionally, until deep golden brown, about 6 minutes. Meanwhile, stir cornstarch into 1/4 cup cream, then stir mixture into remaining 1 1/4 cups cream. Add cream mixture and salt to caramel, whisking constantly (it will bubble up), and bring to a boil. Set pot in bowl of ice water and let cool, whisking occasionally, 30 minutes; then refrigerate until very cold, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Cake: Preheat oven to 425°. Spray a 12½-by-17½-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Line with parchment; spray parchment, then dust with cocoa, tapping out excess. Whisk together cocoa, flour, and salt.
• Combine eggs, yolks, and granulated sugar in a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a pot of simmering water. Whisk until sugar is dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch, about 2 minutes. In a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat on medium-high speed 2 minutes. Increase speed to high and beat until mixture is pale and thick, about 4 minutes more.
• Sift cocoa mixture over top of egg mixture, then fold in. When almost incorporated, pour butter down side of bowl; gently fold to combine, scraping bottom of bowl. Transfer to prepared sheet, using an offset spatula to spread evenly. Bake until center springs back when lightly touched, 6 to 7 minutes. Run a small sharp knife around edges of cake. Invert onto a clean kitchen towel; remove parchment. Immediately, starting at one short side, roll into a log, incorporating towel. Let cool 30 minutes.
• Syrup: In a small, heavy pot, stir together granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons water; heat over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved, 1 minute. Continue to cook, without stirring but swirling occasionally, until syrup turns dark amber, 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk in 1/4 cup water (it will bubble up), bourbon, and cocoa. Whisk until smooth. Let cool about 30 minutes.
• Whisk confectioners' sugar into chilled cream mixture, then whip to stiff peaks. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. Whisk again just before filling cake.
• Unroll cooled cake. Brush surface generously with syrup. Use offset spatula to spread whipped cream over cake, leaving a 1/2-inch border all around. Starting at a short end, roll cake to enclose filling (without towel). Wrap towel around cake (for a tight roll, hold closed with binder clips). Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to overnight. Dust with cocoa and serve. (For cleanest slices, use a serrated knife.)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 18 standard muffin cups with paper or foil liners. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, beat butter with sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with milk. Beat in melted chocolate.
• Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake until a tester inserted in centers comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes, then remove cupcakes and let cool completely on rack. (Cupcakes can be made ahead up to this point and stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days.)
• Make the pudding: In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, cocoa, and salt. Whisk in milk and egg yolk. Bring to a boil over medium-high, whisking constantly; cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in vanilla and chopped chocolate until melted. Pour mixture into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, pressing wrap directly onto surface to prevent skin from forming. Refrigerate until cold, at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
• Make the ganache: In a small saucepan, bring cream and corn syrup to a boil. Pour over chocolate in a heatproof bowl and let stand 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Let stand until mixture has a thick, pourable consistency, about 5 minutes more. Use right away.
• Transfer pudding to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain round tip. Insert tip in top of a cupcake and squeeze until cupcake begins to mound. Repeat with remaining cupcakes. Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes and up to 1 day. Spoon about 2 teaspoons ganache over top of each cupcake; top with chocolate curls. Refrigerate at least 15 minutes before serving.