BROWNIE ESPRESSO ICEBOX LAYER CAKE WITH NUTELLA FROSTING
Ingredients
FOR THE PASTRY CREAM
2½ cups milk (600ml)
1 cup sugar (200g)
4 tbsp plain flour
3 tbsp cornstarch
½ tsp salt
8 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract
FOR THE BROWNIE BASE
150g unsalted butter (5.4 oz)
1¼ cups caster sugar
¾ cup cocoa
½ tsp salt
½ tsp vanilla
2 eggs
½ cup plain flour
FOR THE LAYER BISCUITS
500g plain flour
50g margarine
150g caster sugar
3 tbsp honey
1 tsp soda
2 eggs
pinch salt
FOR THE ESPRESSO NUTELLA BUTTERCREAM
Chilled pastry cream (from above)
250g unsalted butter, softened (1¼ cups)
¼ cup Nutella
½ cup strong coffee or espresso
FOR THE NUTELLA GANACHE
50g milk chocolate (1/4 cup)
140g Nutella (1/2 cup)
Method
FOR THE PASTRY CREAM
To make the pastry cream, pour the milk into a medium saucepan and scald the milk – heat it until bubbles appear around the edges, but it is not boiling.
While the milk is heating, mix together the sugar, flour and salt in a small bowl.
In a large heatproof bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and vanilla. Whisk the flour mixture to the egg yolks slowly, a couple of tablespoons at a time. It will be thick and pasty.
Once the milk is heated, slowly pour it into the egg mixture, whisking continuously. Once it is all incorporated, pour it back into the saucepan and heat over a medium heat. Whisk continuously and vigorously until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil.
Once the mixture is thickened and just beginning to bubble, whisk vigorously for 10 seconds and then turn off the heat, This cooks out the taste of flour.
Pour the pastry cream into a heatproof bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, putting the plastic right onto the surface of the pastry cream. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until cold.
FOR THE BROWNIE BASE
Preheat the oven to 170 C (325 F) and grease and line an 11 inch springform tin with baking paper.
Melt the butter in a large bowl in the microwave.
Add the sugar, stir to well combine and microwave for a further 30 seconds. Add the cocoa, salt and vanilla, stir well and microwave for a further 30 seconds. Stir very well until all the ingredients are combined.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well with a wooden spoon or spatula between each addition.
Add the flour and mix it in until it clears. Then beat the mixture vigorously with a wooden spoon for 40 strokes.
Pour the batter into the prepared tin and smooth out the top.
Bake for 20 minutes, until the center is set and a toothpick inserted has moist crumbs. Set aside to cool.
FOR THE BISCUIT LAYERS
Turn up the oven to 180 C (350 F) and line as many large trays as you have with baking paper (you’ll need 8 in total but can always rotate them).
To make the biscuit dough, knead all the ingredients together by hand or in a food processor.
Divide the dough into 8 equal parts. On a floured surface, roll out each ball of dough into a very thin round, until it is the size of a dinner plate. Place a 11 inch springform tin (the same one you used for your brownie base) upside down on top of the rolled out dough and trim around it to remove the excess.
Place the rolled rounds of dough onto the baking trays and bake for 6 – 8 minutes until golden. Set aside to cool.
FOR THE ESPRESSO NUTELLA BUTTERCREAM
Using an electric mixer, beat the butter until it is very light and fluffy.
Add the pastry cream, a tablespoon at a time, beating well between each addition.
Add the Nutella and beat until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Add the coffee, a couple of tablespoons at a time, beating well between each addition. Scrape down the bowl and give everything a good stir with a spatula.
FOR THE NUTELLA GANACHE
Melt the chocolate in a small microwave bowl in 30 second bursts, stirring between each burst.
Mix in the Nutella and set aside.
TO ASSEMBLE
Set the brownie base on a cake stand. Top with about half a cup of buttercream and spread it evenly around using an offset spatula.
Top with a layer biscuit, pushing down gently. Then spread another half cup of buttercream over the biscuit. Repeat the process until all the biscuits and buttercream are used, finishing with a layer of buttercream.
Microwave the Nutella ganache for 30 seconds and give it a good stir.
Pour it onto the cake and spread it out to the edges using an offset spatula.
I've topped mine with a few garnishes I made by simply melting some chocolate and piping it into shapes.
Keep refrigerated. The cake is best eaten after at least one day in the fridge. Serves 10.
Happy baking!
Recipe by Butter Baking at https://www.butterbaking.com/2012/06/16/brownie-espresso-layer-cake/