Best Chocolate Curl Cake Recipes

TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CURLS

Steps:

• Rub the underside of a baking sheet with an oiled paper towel, then peel back one piece of paper to expose a square of gold leaf. Don't dally: It is whisper-thin, so it practically flies away if you breathe on it. Holding the rest of the book in your hand, invert the gold onto the oiled baking sheet and lift off the remaining piece of paper the gold leaf was sandwiched against. (Wrinkles are okay.) Repeat the process with eight more gold squares.
• Next, melt the chocolate and spread it over the gold leaf as thinly and evenly as possible with the offset spatula.
• Now comes the tricky part. The chocolate needs to set to the right consistency. If it isn't firm enough, it won't curl; if it's too firm, it will break into shards (which have their own beauty). Chill the chocolate for about seven minutes before trying a test curl. Brace the baking sheet against the kitchen wall and, holding the putty knife at an angle, scrape the chocolate (and gold leaf) away from you. If it curls, you've got it! The correct angle is really just a matter of feel.
• Carefully transfer the curls with the putty knife to a paper towel-padded box and keep them cold until you're ready to use them.

CHOCOLATE CURLS

Steps:

• Place the chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl with the vegetable shortening. Throw it in the microwave until the shortening is melted and hot, 30 to 45 seconds. Stir with a fork to combine thoroughly.
• Next, pour the melted chocolate over the underside of a clean cookie sheet. Then, with an offset spatula or a knife, spread the chocolate in a thin layer. Keep going until it's very, very thin. Then...and this is the key...stick it in the freezer for a few minutes.
• After a few minutes, check that the chocolate is ready by pressing it with your finger tip; it should leave the slightest mark, but not an actual depression.
• Next, get a somewhat sharp-edged spatula and begin to scrape the chocolate from the bottom of the pan. When the chocolate is just the right temperature, it'll curl instead of break. If it gets too soft, stick it back in the freezer for a minute.
• Pretty soon you'll have a bunch of fun little chocolate curls.
• Important: As soon as possible, transfer the curls to a cold pan or plate, and then stick them in the freezer to harden. Store in the freezer in a zip-top bag until you need them. Use them to adorn pies, cakes or platters of fruit. You'll feel instantly fancy!

WHITE-CHOCOLATE CURLS

Steps:

• Melt chocolate, stirring, in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Turn off heat. Let cool slightly. Spread 1/4 of the chocolate over the back of a rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate until just starting to set, 15 minutes.
• Using a bench scraper held at a 45-degree angle, scrape chocolate into 1/2-inch-wide curls. (If chocolate breaks, let it stand to warm slightly. If chocolate is too soft, refrigerate until just starting to set.) As you work, transfer curls to a rimmed baking sheet in the refrigerator. Repeat with remaining chocolate. Refrigerate curls until firm.

CHOCOLATE CURLS

Steps:

• In a heavy 1-quart saucepan over low heat, heat 5 squares of chocolate, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth.
• Pour melted chocolate into a 15 1/2" by 10 1/2" jelly roll pan; use a rubber spatula to scrape all of the chocolate from the saucepan.
• With the same rubber spatula, spread the chocolate to evenly cover entire bottom of pan.
• Refrigerate until firm, but not brittle, about 10 minutes.
• Place jelly-roll pan on damp cloth on work surface (damp cloth keeps pan from moving while working).
• Holding teaspoon at a 30 degree angle, scrape chocolate into curls (if chocolate softens and sticks to spoon, place pan in refrigerator several minutes).
• With toothpick, transfer curls to another jelly-roll pan; refrigerate.
• Repeat 4 more times to make 5 batches of curls in all.
• To Garnish Cake with Curls: Using a toothpick as a tool to lift the delicate curls (the heat of your hands will melt or mar them), carefully press chocolate curls onto fresh frosting. (The gooey fresh frosting is the glue that holds the curls in place.)

CHOCOLATE CURL CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven as directed on cake mix.
• Prepare cake mix as directed with water, oil, and egg whites.
• Fold into batter 2 squares unsweetened coarsley shaved chocolate.
• Bake the prepared cake mix as directed in 2 layer 8-9x1 1/2-inch cake pans.
• Allow the cakes to cool completely.
• In a medium saucepan, mix together sugar, light cream, butter, and chocolate.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until chocolate and butter are melted.
• Stir at least half of hot mixture into egg yolks; stir into remaining hot mixture in sauce pan.
• Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.
• Boil and stir 1 minute.
• Remove from heat; cool completely.
• Once cakes are cooled top 1 cake with the chocolate filling.
• Top with remaining cake.
• Shave unsweet chocolate.
• Frost top and sides of cake with vanilla frosting, then sprinkle with shaved chocolate on top of the cake.