Best Crunchy Topped Cocoa Cake Recipes

COCOA PUFFS® CEREAL CRUNCH CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease bottoms only of 3 (8- or 9-inch) round cake pans. Make cake batter as directed on box. Divide batter evenly among pans (about 1 2/3 cups batter in each).
• Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Spoon 1 container frosting into large bowl. Coarsely crush 3 cups of the cereal. Add crushed cereal to frosting; mix well. Spread half over first cake layer to within 1/2 inch of edge. Place second cake layer over frosting; top with remaining frosting. Top with third cake layer.
• Frost side and top of cake with remaining 1 1/2 containers frosting. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup uncrushed cereal.

CHOCOLATE STREUSEL POUNDCAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan, then line with parchment paper, leaving enough to hang over the edges of the pan. Grease the parchment on the bottom of the loaf pan.
• In a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, or in the microwave, melt the chocolate for the cake, stirring until smooth. Set aside to cool while you prepare the streusel.
• Prepare the streusel: In a bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Using fingers or a fork, cut in the butter until it is evenly distributed and forms large, moist crumbs. Stir in the chocolate chips.
• Scatter half the streusel evenly into the bottom of the loaf pan. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until baked through.
• Prepare the cake: In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat melted butter, both sugars and salt together until combined. Beat in egg, vanilla extract, yogurt, milk and melted chocolate. Fold in dry ingredients until just combined.
• Scrape batter into prepared pan and top with remaining streusel. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of cake emerges clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and cool completely before turning out and slicing.

COCONUT-PECAN-CRUSTED BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. and butter and flour a 9-inch square baking pan, knocking out excess flour.
• Make topping:
• In a 1 1/2-quart bowl stir together topping ingredients until combined well.
• Make brownie layer:
• In a 1 1/2-quart saucepan melt butter over moderately low heat. Remove pan from heat and stir in sugar and vanilla. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well with a wooden spoon after each addition. Into a bowl sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt and stir into butter mixture until just combined well.
• Spread batter evenly in pan and sprinkle with topping. Bake brownies in middle of oven 30 to 35 minutes, or until a tester comes out with crumbs adhering to it. Cool brownies completely in pan on a rack before cutting into 16 squares. Brownies keep, layered between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container at cool room temperature, 5 days.

CHOCOLATE RICE KRISPIE CAKES

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl with the butter and golden syrup and gently melt in 10-second bursts in the microwave, or melt it over a pan of simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water. Stir until smooth, then take off the heat and stir in the rice pops, coating them gently with the chocolate until they are all completely covered.
• Divide the mixture between nine cupcake or 12 fairy cake paper cases - it's easier if you slide these into a muffin tin as it will help them hold their shape. Leave to set. If you want them to set faster, put in the fridge for 1 hr.
• Drizzle with a little melted chocolate and decorate with sweets, dried fruit or nuts while they are still wet enough to stick them on. Will keep in an airtight container for five days.