Easy Marble Cake with Rich Ganache Frosting

I admit it, I do use sometimes cake mixes, I apologize to the universe for that, but hey it makes my life easier.

This cake is very rich and the frosting is decadent. Save it for a special occasion.

Ingredients
Cake
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (18 ounce) box yellow cake mix
4 large eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Icing
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup butter (I use I can't Believe it is not butter light)
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups powdered sugar

Method
Cake

• Preheat oven to 375.
• Spray Bundt cake with non-stick.
• Microwave chocolate with 20-30 sec intervals. Stir and repeat until most of the chocolate is melt but not all (usually takes 1 minute). I usually do not let it melt completely, which creates a nice effect in the cake.
• Combine cake mix, eggs, vanilla extract, sour cream, vegetable oil, sugar and water. Beat on high for around 3 minutes.
• Stir third of the batter into the melted chocolate, mix well.
• Spread half of the vanilla batter in the pan, then the chocolate batter and then the rest of the vanilla batter. Swirl the batters with a butter knife to create the marble effect.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes, cool for 20 minutes in pan, remove from pan and cool completely.

Icing

• Melt the chocolate and butter (you can do this in the microwave as well, but be careful).
• Cool the mix for 5-10 minutes, add sour cream and then the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. Spread the icing on the cake when it has cooled completely.

Vegan Chocolate Cake

This tastes better the second day

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup white sugar
1/4 unsweetened cocoa powder
5 Tb vegetable oil
1 Tb white vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup cold water

Method

• Preheat oven to 350F, grease an 8x8 inch baking pan
• In a bowl, mix flour, salt, sugar cocoa powder, and baking soda. Add oil, vinegar, and vanilla. Mix until dry ingredients are thoroughly moistened. Pour cold water and mix for 3 to 4 minutes (do not skimp on this mixing otherwise the cake will be weird and crumbly).
• Pour batter in pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on rack.
• This tastes better the second day.

Viennese Coffee Balls

Who doesn't love a no-bake chocolatey cookie!

Ingredients

2 cups crushed shortbread cookies (about 8 cookies), crushed

1 1/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted

1 cup toasted hazelnuts, chopped

3 TB cocoa powder

1 1/2 tsp instant coffee

3/4 tsp cinnamon

4 Tb strong coffee or espresso

Method

• Combine cookie crumbs, 3/4 cup powdered sugar, nuts, cocoa powder, coffe crystals and cinnamon.
• Stir in coffee just enough to moisten.
• Shape into 1/2-inch balls. Roll in powdered sugar. Place on waxed paper and let stand for 1 hour (or until dry). Roll again lightly in powdered sugar.