Thursday, March 12, 2009

S'mores Mini Cakes

BABY SHOWER CAKE RECIPE

These tiered mini cakes are as fun to make as traditional s'mores.

Ingredients

Serves 8

FOR THE CAKES:
* 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pan
* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 2/3 cup untoasted wheat germ
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 3/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
* 2 tablespoons clover honey, or other mild honey
* 3 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

FOR THE GLAZE:
* 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
* 5 ounces heavy cream
* 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
* 8 large plus 8 mini marshmallows

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch square cake pan; line with parchment paper, allowing a 2-inch overhang. Make the cakes: Whisk flour, wheat germ, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Put butter, brown sugar, and honey into mixer bowl; mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to medium; mix in eggs and vanilla. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined.
2. Spread batter into prepared pan; smooth top. Bake until golden brown and a cake tester inserted in center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in pan 15 minutes. Lift out; let cool completely on wire rack. Can be stored, wrapped in plastic, up to 1 day.
3. Cut out 8 rounds with 2 1/4-inch cutter and 8 rounds with 7/8-inch cutter. Transfer to baking sheet lined with parchment.
4. Make the glaze: Put chocolate in a small bowl. Heat cream and corn syrup in a small pan over medium-high heat until just simmering. Pour over chocolate; stir until chocolate has melted. Let cool, stirring occasionally, 20 to 25 minutes.
5. Spoon a dollop of glaze over each cake and large marshmallow, spreading so it runs down sides. Stack: large cake, large marshmallow, small cake, mini marshmallow.

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