Best Chocolate Fruit Cake Recipes

DARK CHOCOLATE, COCONUT & PASSION FRUIT MOUSSE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line two 20cm cake tins with baking parchment - if your cake tins are quite shallow, line the sides to a depth of at least 5cm. Put the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, sugar and 1 tsp salt in a bowl and mix well. If there are any lumps in the sugar, squeeze these through your fingers to break them up.
• Measure the buttermilk, coffee, oil and vanilla in a jug. Add the egg and whisk until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and whisk until well combined. Pour the cake mixture evenly into the two tins, and bake for 25-30 mins until risen and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool in the tins for 10 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack, peel off the baking parchment and leave to cool. These sponges can be made up to three days ahead and will stay moist if wrapped in cling film, or you can wrap well and freeze for up to two months.
• To make the mousse, put the gelatine leaves in a bowl of cold water, one at a time, so they don't stick together. Set aside for 5 mins to soften. Scoop the pulp and seeds from the passion fruit into a sieve suspended over a bowl, and push through the juice - you should have about 100ml. Put 1 tbsp of the seeds in a small bowl and set aside. Save 2 small empty passion fruit halves and discard the rest.
• Pour the coconut cream, passion fruit juice and sugar into a saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer. Remove from the heat and stir in the coconut rum liqueur. Add the gelatine to the hot liquid, a leaf at a time, squeezing out the water before you add them. Stir until the gelatine has dissolved. Fill each reserved passion fruit half with some of the mixture, place in a small dish and chill until needed. Leave the remaining mixture to cool to room temperature. Pour the double cream into a large bowl and whip until it's holding its shape. Add half the passion fruit mixture, fold together, then add the remaining mixture and fold through again.
• Line a deep 20cm cake tin with a double layer of cling film. Slice each sponge in half through the middle and drizzle each layer with 1 tbsp coconut rum liqueur. Place one of the layers into the tin, flat-side down, and spread with a third of the passion fruit mousse - don't worry if a little trickles down the sides. Layer the remaining sponges and mousse on top, finishing with a layer of cake. Cover the top of the cake with cling film and chill for at least 4 hrs, or preferably overnight.
• When the cake has chilled and the mousse is set, turn out onto a cake stand, so the base now becomes the top, and remove the cling film. Using a palette knife, scrape any passion fruit mousse off the edges of the cake, to give it a smooth surface. Place the cake back in the fridge while you prepare the ganache.
• Put the chocolate and cream in a pan and gently heat, stirring now and then, to make a runny chocolate sauce. Leave to firm up at room temperature until it reaches a spreadable consistency.
• Remove the cake from the fridge. Spread the ganache over the top and sides of the cake with a palette knife until completely covered. Decorate with a ring of toasted coconut shavings, if you like. Remove the filled passion fruit shells from the fridge and place these on top too, topped with the reserved passion fruit seeds. Chill until ready to serve, but bring out of the fridge 1 hr before slicing (don't forget to serve the passion fruit jellies to your favourite guests too). Leftovers will keep in the fridge for 2 days.

CHOCOLATE FRUIT BASKET CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using two greased 9-in. round baking pans. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Separate candy bars; lightly press into sides of cake. Arrange berries on top; brush with preserves. Garnish with mint if desired.

PASSION FRUIT AND CHOCOLATE SORBET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with a parchment paper circle.
• Put the melted butter and wafer cookies in a medium bowl and mix well. Press the mixture into the bottom and slightly up the sides of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then let cool completely before using.
• Scoop the chocolate sorbet and passion fruit sorbet onto the cookie crust, packing them in tightly and alternating the scoops to create a marbled or checkerboard effect. Spread with an offset spatula to make a smooth top. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• Unmold the cake by running a knife around the edge of it, then unhinge the springform and remove. Invert the cake onto a sheet of plastic wrap and remove the bottom of the pan and the parchment. Place a plate on the bottom and invert once more.
• Bring the heavy cream to a simmer in a small pot. Pour the cream over the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and stir until smooth. Allow to cool 10 minutes before using.
• Frost the top and sides of the cake with the ganache and sprinkle with the coconut. If the cake begins to get too soft, put it back into the freezer for a few minutes.
• Freeze another 1 1/2 to 2 hours or overnight. Before serving, let the cake sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes.

GRILLED POUND CAKE; MEXICAN CHOCOLATE SAUCE & TROPICAL FRUIT

Steps:

• MAKE THE WHIPPED CREAM:
• In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, softly whip the heavy cream.
• Add the confectioners' sugar, rum and vanilla and whip the cream until firm peaks form.
• Refrigerate the whipped cream.
• MAKE THE CHOCOLATE SAUCE:
• In a medium saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a simmer over moderately high heat with the cinnamon and chile powder.
• Add the chocolate chips and vanilla.
• Remove from the heat and let stand for 1 minute, then whisk to blend; keep warm.
• MAKE THE FRUIT SALAD:
• In a medium bowl, toss the mango and papaya with the basil and vanilla.
• PREPARE THE POUND CAKE:
• Light a grill or preheat a grill pan.
• Butter both sides of the pound cake slices.
• Grill the pound cake over moderate heat, turning once, until golden, about 2 minutes per side.
• Set a slice of grilled pound cake on each of 6 plates and top each one with 3 tablespoons of the warm chocolate sauce and the fruit salad.
• Top each serving with a dollop of the rum whipped cream and sprinkle with the toasted almonds.
• Pass the remaining chocolate sauce at the table.
• **MAKE AHEAD The whipped cream and fruit salad can be refrigerated for up to 4 hours; whip the cream gently before serving. The chocolate sauce can be refrigerated for up to 2 days; rewarm before serving.

CHOCOLATE-PECAN CAKE WITH TROPICAL-FRUIT CUSTARD SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter the inside of a nine-inch cake pan. Place a round of parchment or waxed paper, cut to fit, in the bottom of the pan. Butter the round of paper. Add about one tablespoon of flour to the buttered pan and shake it around to coat the bottom and sides of the pan. Shake out excess.
• Combine the cream and four tablespoons of butter in a saucepan. When the mixture simmers, add all the chocolate and stir around the bottom and sides until melted. Remove from the heat and let stand.
• Break the eggs into a heat-proof earthenware or metal mixing bowl. Stir in the sugar and vanilla. Place the bowl over - not in - a basin of simmering water, beating the mixture vigorously with a wire whisk.
• After about one minute, when the eggs are warm and not overly heated, remove the bowl from the basin and beat with an electric mixer.
• Continue beating until the mixture is tripled in volume and reaches room temperature, about 7 to 10 minutes.
• Scrape about one-third of the chocolate mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add about one-third of the egg mixture and blend well with a spatula. Add the remaining egg mixture and fold it in. Fold in the remaining chocolate mixture and stir in the pecans.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Smooth over the top.
• Place the cake pan in a larger pan and pour boiling water around the cake pan. Place in the oven and bake 45 to 50 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Remove the cake from the oven and let it sit in the water bath about 30 minutes. Remove the cake from the water bath and wipe off the bottom of the pan. Invert the cake onto a platter, remove the round of paper and let stand to room temperature. Serve with tropical-fruit custard sauce.

CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH FRUIT AND MAPLE YOGURT

Steps:

• Transfer the oven rack to the lowest level. Preheat oven to 325°F. Sift 1 cup sugar with flour, cocoa, and salt; set aside. Using an electric mixer set at medium-high speed, whip egg whites, lemon juice, and vanilla in a medium-sized bowl until peaks form. Set mixer to high speed and whip in remaining 1/2 cup sugar until semistiff peaks form (do not overbeat). With a plastic spatula, slowly fold in the remaining dry ingredients, 1/4 cup at a time, until flour mix disappears. Scoop batter into a 10" ungreased tube pan and spread evenly. Bake until cake springs back when touched, 45 to 55 minutes. Remove from oven, invert cake pan, and place upside down on a cooling rack. Thoroughly wash and dry berries. Combine berries, nectar, and honey in a small bowl. Mix slowly, being careful not to crush the berries. In a separate bowl, combine yogurt and syrup until blended. Remove cake gently from pan and cut into 8 slices. Serve each slice with fruit and a dollop of maple yogurt.

CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE WITH PASSION FRUIT ICING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the base of a 20cm springform cake tin with baking parchment. Beat the butter and caster sugar together until pale, light and fluffy - this is easiest using a freestanding machine or an electric hand-held mixer. Gradually add the egg, a little at a time, beating well between each addition.
• Sift both flours, the bicarbonate of soda and the cocoa into a bowl. Add half the sifted dry ingredients to the egg mixture and fold in using a large metal spoon. In another bowl, mix the soured cream and cream cheese together until smooth. Add half to the cake batter and fold in. Repeat this process with the remaining flour and soured cream, and mix until smooth. Pour into the cake tin. Bake on the middle shelf for 1 hr or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 10 mins before turning out onto a wire rack and removing the baking parchment.
• Meanwhile, make the icing. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter until pale and softly whipped. Add the icing sugar and whisk until smooth, then add the cream cheese and whisk again. Sieve the juice from the passion fruits, reserving the pulp and seeds. Add the juice to the icing.
• To assemble, split the cake into 3 even layers and place the bottom layer on a cake stand or plate. Spread one-third of the icing over the bottom layer, swirling out to the edges. Repeat with the remaining 2 layers of cake and icing, finishing with a layer of icing. Top with the passion fruit pulp and seeds. Serve straight away. Will keep for 3 days, chilled - but bring back to room temperature before serving.

CHOCOLATE FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Line the sides and bottom of an 8 by 3 1/2-inch deep, round loose-bottomed cake tin with a layer of reusable silicon baking parchment. When lining the tin with the parchment, cut the material into strips that are twice as high as the tin itself (it is easier to use two shorter strips of parchment, than one long strip); the height of the strips protects the cake from catching on the outside of the cake tin.
• Place the fruit, butter, sugar, honey, coffee liqueur, orange zest and juice, mixed spice and cocoa into a large wide saucepan. Heat the mixture until it reaches a gentle boil, stirring the mixture as the butter melts. Let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and leave to stand for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, the mixture will have cooled a little. Add the eggs, flour, ground almonds, baking powder and baking soda, and mix well with a wooden spoon or spatula until the ingredients have combined.
• Carefully pour the fruitcake mixture into the lined cake tin. Transfer the cake tin to the oven and bake for 1 3/4 to 2 hours, or until the top of the cake is firm but will has a shiny and sticky look. At this point, if you insert a sharp knife into the middle of the cake, the cake should still be a little uncooked in the middle.
• Place the cake on a cooling rack. Once the cake has cooled, remove it from the tin.
• To decorate, place the chocolate-covered coffee beans in the centre of the cake and arrange the gold stars around the perimeter of the top of the cake. Then sprinkle some gold mini-balls over the whole cake and sprinkle the top with edible glitter.

CHOCOLATE FONDUE WITH FRUIT AND GRILLED POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Heat up the grill. Grill the pineapple slices over medium heat until charred on both sides, about 8 minutes.
• Brush the pound cake slices with the melted butter and grill over medium heat until toasted, about 4 minutes.
• Cut the pound cake into 1 inch cubes and transfer to a plate. Cut the pineapple into 1 inch cubes and transfer to a separate plate along with the apricots.
• In a pan, bring the cream and bourbon to a simmer. Add both of the chocolates and the salt, then remove the pan from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth.
• Serve the chocolate with the grilled pound cake and fruit.

FRUIT-SWEETENED SNACK CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and butter an 8-by-8-inch baking dish.
• Set aside 1/4 cup each of the apricots and raisins and dice; reserve for later. Put the remaining apricots and raisins in a medium bowl and cover with very hot water, then let soak until the fruit is very soft, about 5 minutes. Drain and puree in a food processor along with the orange juice until very smooth.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt together in a medium bowl.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. Add the apricot-raisin puree and beat until incorporated and smooth. Add the egg and egg yolk, vanilla and orange zest and beat until incorporated. Lower the mixer speed to medium-low and add half the flour mixture, then all of the sour cream and then the remaining flour mixture, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed (it's ok if the batter has some lumps). Fold in the diced apricots and raisins.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish. Bake until golden, the cake bounces back when pressed in the center and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack.
• For the frosting: Soak the chopped dates in very hot water until very soft, about 5 minutes. Drain and transfer to the food processor. Put the chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 second increments, stirring after each, until melted and smooth. Add to the dates along with the heavy cream and cocoa powder. Process until light and smooth.
• Once the cake is completely cooled, spread the chocolate-date frosting over the top. Cut into squares and serve.

CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH FRUIT AND MAPLE YOGURT RECIPE | EPICURIOUS.COM

Steps:

• Transfer the oven rack to the lowest level. Preheat oven to 325°F. Sift 1 cup sugar with flour, cocoa, and salt; set aside. Using an electric mixer set at medium-high speed, whip egg whites, lemon juice, and vanilla in a medium-sized bowl until peaks form. Set mixer to high speed and whip in remaining 1/2 cup sugar until semistiff peaks form (do not overbeat). With a plastic spatula, slowly fold in the remaining dry ingredients, 1/4 cup at a time, until flour mix disappears. Scoop batter into a 10" ungreased tube pan and spread evenly. Bake until cake springs back when touched, 45 to 55 minutes. Remove from oven, invert cake pan, and place upside down on a cooling rack. Thoroughly wash and dry berries. Combine berries, nectar, and honey in a small bowl. Mix slowly, being careful not to crush the berries. In a separate bowl, combine yogurt and syrup until blended. Remove cake gently from pan and cut into 8 slices. Serve each slice with fruit and a dollop of maple yogurt.
• Nutritional analysis per serving 328 calories, 1.6 g fat (0.6 g saturated fat), 71.5 g carbohydrates, 10.3 g protein, 6.7 g fiber
• Nutritional analysis provided by
• Self

CHOCOLATE FRUIT COCKTAIL CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease and flour a 9 x 13 inch baking pan; set aside. Place cake mix, pudding mix, fruit cocktail and its juice, eggs, oil and finely chopped pecans in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Combine light brown sugar and coarsely chopped pecans in a small bowl. Sprinkle this over the top of the cake. Bake until the pecans look toasty and the center springs back when lightly touched in the center, about 40-45 minutes. Meanwhile prepare the glaze. Place butter, sugar, cocoa, and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir and bring to a boil, then remove from the heat and stir in the coarsely chopped pecans. Keep warm. Remove cake from oven and allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes. Spread glaze over warm cake, spreading evenly. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE FRUIT BASKET CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using two greased 9-in. round baking pans. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
• Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Separate candy bars; lightly press into sides of cake. Arrange berries on top; brush with preserves. Garnish with mint if desired. Yield: 12 servings. How-To: To keep the cake stand clean while frosting, line the edge with 3-in. strips of waxed paper. Center the first cake layer over the strips. When finished frosting, carefully remove strips one piece at a time. See cake stand»