Chocolate Eclair Dessert

Ingredients

Milk chocolate chopped  200 grams
Coffee 1 tsp
Cream 2 cups (400 ml) + ½ cup (100 ml) for topping
Vanilla pudding or plain egg pudding 1 sachet or Home made Vanilla flavored Pastry/Custard Cream
Milk 2 cups
Tea biscuits 2 half rolls
Crushed nuts or chocolate for garnish

Method

In a heatproof bowl, microwave cream, chocolate and coffee together for 1-2 mins. Mix well. Alternately, you can use a double boiler to melt cream, chocolate and coffee.
(for pudding Take 2 cups milk and bring it to boil, add pudding sachet and mix well. Set aside).
In a dish, place a layer of biscuits. Top it with half of the warm pudding/Custard, then top with 1/3rd of the chocolate mixture.
Layer with biscuits, pudding and the remaining chocolate mixture. Completely cover the top with chocolate mixture.
Whip 1/2 cup for 3-4 minutes till soft peaks are formed.
Top the chocolate mixture with whipped cream, and garnish with nuts and grated chocolate.
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
(Recipe By Maham Alavi (KCH volume1)

Chocolate Eclair Dessert

Chicken Pakoray

Ingredients for marination

1 Chicken breast (cut into small cubes)
Salt to taste
Crushed Red Chilli/Chilli flakes 1 tsp
Soya Sauce 1 tbsp
White vinegar 2 tbsp
Tikkah or Tandoori Masala 2 tbsp
Garlic paste 1 tsp
(marinate chicken & keep it aside atleast for half N hour)

Ingredients for batter

Gram flour\Baisan 4 to 5 tbsp's heaped
all-purpose flour/Maida 2 tbsp's
salt to taste
Ajwain (Caraway seeds) 1/4 tsp
Crushed Black pepper 1/2 tsp
1 egg
Chilled Water 4 to 5 tbsp
Baking Soda 1 pinch (optional)*
Spring onions Chopped 1/2 cup (optional)*
Corainder leaves/Cliantro chopped 2 tbsp
Oil for frying

Method

In a large mixing bowl add all the ingredients for batter except baking soda,whisk it till nice & smooth batter (You may need to thin with additional water if the batter is too thick)add marinated chicken mix it,
add baking soda just before frying,
Deep fry till light golden.Serve hot with your favorate dip : !

*Note : If u want Crunchy Crispy pakora's then dont add spring onions & baking soda !!

Chicken Pakoray

Chicken Shashlik

Ingredients

500 g boneless chicken breast 

2 capsicum
2 medium onions
2 medium tomatoes
1\4 cups lemon juice
1\2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tbsp. Soya sauce
1 tbsp. hot sauce
oil 4 to 6 tbsp

Ingredients for Sauce:

Chicken stock 1 cup
Chili garlic sauce 4 to 5 tbsp
Tomato ketchup 4 tbsp
Pinch of Orange food color
Garlic 2 tbsp (chopped)
Onions 1 (chopped)
Corn flour 1 tbsp
Oil 2 tbsp
Salt to taste

Method for Sauce:

Heat oil in a pan and fry the chopped onions for 1-2 minutes.
Add the chopped garlic and sauté for another minute.
Now add the salt, chicken stock and chili garlic sauce and cook until the mixture boils.
Mix the corn flour in water and stir the mixture into the stock and cook till it thickens.

Method:

Cut chicken into 1 inch pieces. Place in a bowl with the lemon juice, salt ,black pepper Soya sauce and hot sauce. Mix well,cover and leave to marinate for 2-3 hour.
Cut the onion, capsicum, and tomatoes into small cubes.
Thread, chicken and vegetables closely on bamboo skewers.
Heat oil in a  non-stick frying pan or grill pan Fry skewers for 8-10 minutes or until chicken begin to change its color and the vegetables are soft. Remove from oil and put it on absorbent paper. Alternatively, grill the chicken over hot charcoal.
Serve with plain rice/ Garlic Rice/Egg fried Rice and sauce

Fried Chicken Liver (Spicy)

Ingredients for marination
Chicken liver (Kaleji) half kg
Salt to taste
Yogurt 2 tbsp
Crushed black pepper ½ tsp
Ginger/Garlic paste 1 tsp
Red chilli flakes ½ tsp
Garam masala powder ¼ tsp
Ingredients for frying
Oil 4 tbsp
Crushed black pepper ¼ tsp
Lemon juice 2 tbsp
Method
Marinate liver with the marination ingredients leave it aside for atleast 30 minutes.
Heat oil add marinated liver fry till its completely dry and nicely roasted,
Dish out sprinkle lemon juice and black pepper ; Serve immediately !

Smoked Pishawari Karahi

Ingredients

Chicken/mutton half kg
-Ginger garlic paste 1tbsp
-Green chillies chopped 6-7
-Oil half cup
-Onion1 large Sliced
-Tomatoes chopped 250gms
-Coriander powder 1 teaspoon
-Turmeric 1/4tsp
-Salt 1tsp
-Chilli powder 2tsp
-Black pepper powder 1/2 teaspoon
-Black cumin seeds 1/4 tsp
-All spice 1/2 teaspoon
-Coriander leaves half bunch (finely cut)
-Yogurt 2 tbsp

Method

1, in a pan heat up oil
2,add chicken/mutton , tomatoes,salt,chilli powder, ginger garlic paste, onion and cook on medium heat till nearly tender.
3, then add coriander powder, turmeric, black pepper powder, black cumin seeds, all spice and cook for 10 minutes.
4,now add yogurt, green chillies and fry well.
5 , garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

(You can make it in a karahi (wok) for better presentation)

For koyla dum:
Heat the coal on a stove, then put the coal in a foil paper with a tong and put that coal in the middle of the karahi (as shown in the picture) now put 1tsp oil on the coal and cover the wok with some lid or a steel plate , the smoke will leave the aroma inside then remove the lid when serving.
(Tip: if u r making it with chicken then dunt cover it at all while cooking)

Mint Lemonade

Ingredients

Diet 7up/ 7up one can
Lots of ice.
I big juicy lemon
Lemon flavored tang or any other drink powder 3 tbsp
3 heaped teaspoon sugar ( more or less depending on taste)
A good handful of fresh mint....

Method

Blend it all up, pour it out, garnish it with a slice of lemon and mint leaves.... lastly SLURRRRRRP!

Mint Lemonade

Grilled Tandoori Fish

Ingredients

Fish Half kg
Salt to taste
Red chilli Powder 1tsp
Coriander Powder 1 tsp
Roasted & crushed Cumin 1 tsp
Lemon juice 4 tbsp
Ginger/Garlic paste 1 tsp
Curd 2 tbsp
Crushed black pepper 1/4 tsp
Shan Tandoori Masala 1 tbsp
Melted Butter 4 tbsp or 2 tbsp oil

Method

Take a bowl and add in all the ingredients and mix well.
Add in the fish pieces and mix well with the marination.
Leave this to marinate for atleast 30 mins.
now bake it or grill it on a non stick grill pan & serve :)

Grilled Tandoori Fish

Chocolate Éclairs

Ingredients

Water 4 ounces
Butter 2 ounces
Flour 2 ounces
Egg 2
Salt a pinch
Fresh cream whipped 1 cup
Icing sugar 1 ounce

Ingredients for chocolate icingButter 1 ounce

Cooking Chocolate 2 ounces
Milk 2 tbsp

Method for éclairs

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. In a bowl whisk the flour with the s salt. Place the butter and water in a saucepan over medium high heat and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and, with a wooden spoon, add the flour mixture, all at once, and stir until combined. Return saucepan to the heat and stir constantly until the dough comes away from the sides of the pan and forms a thick smooth ball (about 1-2 minutes). Transfer the dough to your electric mixer (can do this by hand or with a hand mixer), and beat on low speed to release the steam from the dough (about 1 minute). Once the dough is lukewarm start adding the lightly beaten eggs (dough will separate and then come together) and continue to mix until you have a smooth thick paste (dough will fall from a spoon in a thick ribbon). Place the dough in a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip and pipe 12 oblongs of dough (about 3/4 inch (2 cm) wide) onto the baking sheet. (When piping have the bag at a 45 degree angle.) Bake for 15 minutes and then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Continue to bake for a further25 minutesor until the shells are a nice amber color and when split, are almost dry inside. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

Method for icing

Micro all ingredients for 30 seconds or until melted,mix well & use !

Assembling

Split the pastry shells in half, lengthwise. Take the top shell and dip into the chocolate glaze, letting the excess drip off. Place on a wire rack to dry. Fill the bottom half (can spoon or pipe) with the cream. Once the glaze is dry, gently place the top half of the pastry shell on the cream. Can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for two days.

Chocolate Éclairs

Baked Pasta Cups

Ingredients
Boiled Macroni 1 cup
White Sauce 1cup
Chicken Tikkah chunks 150gms approximately (home made or store bought)
Pasta Sauce 4 tbsp
Onion,Capsicum,Olives,mushrooms,jalapeno pepper,tomato, (optitonal u can add remone any)
Cheddar Cheese 4 tbsp grated
Mozzerralla Cheese half cup grated
Boiled & mashed Potato 1cup
Garlic Powder 1 tsp
Bread Crumbs 4 tbsp
Mix italian herbs 1/2 tsp
Crushed black pepper 1/2 tsp
Crushed red chilli 1 tsp (optional)
Method
Mix mashed potato,garlic powder,black pepper & italian herbs,keep aside.
Mix boiled pasta and white sauce,
Grease 12 cupcake liners,
Divide pasta equally into 12 cupcake liners,drizzle pasta sauce, then spread a layer of Chicken tikkah,veggies & cheddar n mozzeralla cheese lastly spread a layer of prepared potato mixture(u can use piping bag & a nozzle for this step..its easier ),sprinkle bread crumbs ,Crushed red chilli & bake on 180 c for atleast 20 mins then grill from top till golden.

Recipe for White Sauce* :
Butter 4 tsp
All purpose flour/maida 4tbsp
milk 4 cups
white pepper 1/4 tsp (optional)
Method
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and stir until the butter and flour are well combined. Pour in milk, stirring constantly as it thickens.add pepper.
Add more milk depending on desired consistency. ( I always add 4 tbsp of grated cheddar cheese in my white sauce)

Chicken falafel* (Falafel with a twist)

Ingredients

Grams (White chana) = 2 cups (Unsoaked)
Chicken mince = 100 gms
Onion = 1 big
Garlic = 8 cloves
Cumin (Zeera) = 1 tb
Green chillies = 5 to 6
Coriander leaves = 1 bunch
Baking powder= 1 tsp
Seasame seed = 1 tb (heaped)
Salt = to taste
Water = 4 to 5 tb

Method

Soak grams (chana) in water over night.In morning discard water again wash & fine chopperized along with chicken mince +onion + garlic + coriander leaves+ green chillies & zeera . Use 4 to 5 tb of water while chopperizing.Take out falafel mixture in a bowl mix salt & seasame seed. Add baking powder just before frying.
Now make falafel with the help of two spoons .Deep fry on medium flame till nice golden.Serve with garlic sauce

Chicken falafel* (Falafel with a twist)

Double Decker Brownies

Ingredients for Black Brownies base..

Coco powder 1/4 cup
Ghee or unsalted butter 6 tabl spoon
Sugar powdr 1 cup
Eggs 2
Vanilla essence 1/2 tea spoon
Flour 1 cup
Baking powder 1/2 tea spoon
Salt pinch
Walnuts chopped 1/3 cup

Ingredients for Chocolate chip top layer..

Unsalted butter 1/3 cup
Ghee 1/3 cup
Sugar powder 1/2 cup
Brown sugar 1/2 cup
Egg 1
Vanilla ess 1 tea spoon
Flour 1 - 1/2 cups
Baking soda 1/2 tea spoon
Salt pinch
Chocolate chips 1/2 cup

Method:

First preheat oven .oil n flour the tray or rectangular pan or square pan .. Heat ghee/ butter melt it ..add coco pwder ..mix ..add sugar .egg .essens ..baking pwde salt ..beat well .. add flour n walnuts .beat .put this thicky batter in ready pan or tray..
Now make ur chocolate chip layer . Beat ghee n butter well .add brown sugar n sugar .beat well .add egg .essense .soda .salt .beat .add flour n chips .mix well .thick mixture ready .. spread this mixture over brownie layer ..use spatula or pallate knife ..level it .tap it ..bake it .. bake untill top layer becums golden ..check with tooth pick .leave to cool ..give it full rest to set .over nite rest is best .to cut nice equal slices .. then cut them in bars ..serve with drizzle chocolate sauce .i use melted chocolate to drizzle..
This top layer recipe is chocolate chip cookies recipe .. use flat knife to lift up from tray .

Double Decker Brownies

Chicken Hareesa

Ingredients

Wheat (soaked overnight) ½ kg
Chicken boneless ½ kg
Turmeric ½ tsp
Ginger garlic 2 tbsp
Green chilies grinded 1 tbsp
Black pepper 1 tsp
Salt 1 tbsp
Tomatoes blended 3
For baghar
Oil ½ cup or 4 tbsp heaped ghee
1large onion sliced
Mint chopped 1 bunch
Ginger finely sliced 2 tbsp
Green chilies chopped 6
Brown onion ¼ cup
Garam Masala powder 1 tsp heaped

Method

soak ½ kg wheat over night, boiled in 12 cups of water and ½ tsp of turmeric till tender, cool and blend, boil ½ kg boneless chicken with 2 tbsp of ginger garlic paste, 1 tsp black pepper, blended tomatoes,1 tbsp salt, 1 tbsp grinded green chilies and 4 cups of water till chicken tender, then chopperize chicken, add the chopperize chicken in boiled & blended wheat and garam masala powder mix all well and cook for a while, lastly heat ½ cup oil, add onion,1 bunch chopped mint leaves, 2 tbsp ginger Julian, 6 chopped green chilies fry till golden then pour it in hareesa, mix well and serve hot.

Chicken Hareesa

CHICKEN MALAI HANDI

Ingredients 

chicken breast 1kg (cut in 2 inch pieces)
yogurt 1 cup
butter 50g
oil 1/2 cup
ginger & garlic paste 1 tbs
cashew nuts 12 pieces
green chilli 10 to 12
cream 1/2 cup
poppy seeds 1 tbs
black pepper powder 1/2 tsp
sesame seeds 2 tbs
salt 1 tsp
white pepper powder 1/2 tsp
bullet green chilli 4 (sliced from the middle)
fresh coriander 1/2 cup

Method

grind cashew nuts, poppy seeds, sesame seed, green chilli to a paste.
marinate the chicken with, the grinded paste, yogurt, cream, black pepper, white pepper, salt, ginger & garlic mix well cover and keep in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes.
heat oil and butter add the chicken with the marination mix and wait for a boil, cover and cook on medium flame till the oil comes on the surface.
now add the coriander, green chilli mix.
serve hot with naan.

CHICKEN MALAI HANDI

Almond & Honey Tart

Ingredients for short crust

Basic sweet paste
Ingredients
Butter 16 ounces
Caster sugar 12 ounces
Flour 24 ounces
Egg 1
Vanilla essence 1 tsp

Method

In a bowl cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add in eggs and beat well. Fold in flour and mix gently with finger tips until the dough can be
gathered into a ball. Knead lightly and chill dough for 30 minutes, use as required.(bake for 5 mins before filling..for this recipe)

Ingredients for filling

Almonds crushed 4 ounces
Butter 1 ounce
Sugar 1 ounce
Honey 3 tbsp

Method

In a pan add Almonds crushed 4 ounces, Butter 1 ounce, Sugar 1 ounce, Honey 3 tbsp.
Cook on low heat stirring continuously till the mixture thickens.
Pour and spread the filling in the half baked tart shells.
Bake at 180 degree C for 20 to 25 minutes.
Do not overcook or cracks will appear, cool until set and serve.

Almond & Honey Tart

Mocha Cake

Ingredients

Basic vanilla Sponge (2 layers)
Chocolate Sponge (2 layers)

For Filling & Frosting

Whipped Cream 14 oz (U can use butter cream)
Ganache 1 cup
Coffee 2 tsp dissolved in 1 tbsp hot water
Condensed milk 2 tbsp
Milk half cup

Method

Icing :- Mix whipping cream ,ganache & coffee mixture.
Mix Condensed milk & milk; use this liquid to moist your cake layers.

Assembling

Place one layer of vanilla sponge up on a cardboard round or a cake plate protected with strips of wax or parchment paper. Using a pastry brush or a small spoon, soak the layer  with milk mix,
spread thick layers of icing, now put layer of chocolate sponge,soak and spread icing again vanilla sponge soak spread icing put last layer of chocolate sponge soak ;cover ur cake nicely with remaining  frosting.Chill before serving.

Mocha Cake

Indian Shrimp Curry

Ingredients

Shrimps ½ kg cleaned
Yogurt ½ cup
Ginger garlic 1 tbsp
Chili powder 1 tsp heaped
Turmeric ¼ tsp
Salt 1 tsp
Tomato 2 chopperized
Vinegar 2 tbsp
Oil ½ cup
Onion 1 cup chopped
White cumin crushed 1 tsp

Method

In a blender blend together yogurt, ginger garlic, chili powder, cumin, turmeric, salt, vinegar and tomatoes, blend to make puree, heat oil add chopped onion, fry till light golden, add blended mixture, fry till oil comes on top, add shrimps, cook on high flame till done about 7 to 8 minutes. Serve with boiled rice.

Indian Shrimp Curry

Tandoori Chicken noodles

Ingredients

Chicken mince 2 cup
Garlic paste 1 tsp
Onion 2 tbsp (chopped)
Tandoori masala 2 tbsp
Lemon juice 2tbsp
Ketchup 2 tbsp
Tomato paste 2 tbsp
Pasta sauce 2 tbsp
Red pepper 1 tsp (crushed)
Mix herbs 1 tsp
Oil 2 tbsp
Water ½ cup
Egg noodles (boiled 3 cups)
Carrot,capsicum,mashrooms (optional)

Method

Heat oil add garlic paste add onion and sauté for 2 minutes.
Add chicken, tandoori masala, lemon juice, ketchup, tomato paste, pasta sauce, crushed red pepper and mixed herbs.
Fry till chicken done.
Add in all sauce and seasoning with water.
Fold in boiled noodles and vegetables simmer for 5 mins.
Dish out and serve hot.

Tandoori Chicken noodles

Strawberry Ripple IceCream

Ingredients

Evaporated milk (chilled) 1 tin (make sure its chilled for at least 3 hours in freezer)
Condensed milk (chilled) 1 tin (more or less/to taste)
Fresh Cream/Whipping Cream 2 packet or 12 oz
Strawberry essence
Strawberries 1 cup (make puree in a blender with 2 tbsp of sugar)
Strawberry Sauce/Syrup (optional)

Method

Put chilled evaporated milk in a bowl beat with beater until become double in volume. (it takes about 10mins if using hand beater)
In evaporated milk add condensed milk, beat for a while until mix.
In another bowl beat cream with electric beater till soft peaks.
Now in condensed milk add strawberry puree and essence beat with beater just to mix.
When everything is mixed well add beaten cream then fold well with spoon.
Pour this mixture into ice cream mould/airtight container and put in freezer.
After 1 hour pour strawberry sauce and slightly mix with knife in round to give ripple or two shade effect.
Put in freezer for another 12 hours .
For Serving: Scoop out ice cream in glass pour strawberry sauce

Strawberry Ripple IceCream

Pizza Tarts

Ingredients

1 kg package frozen puff pastry
1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons Pizza sauce
1/2 packet KandNs Frozen Chicken tikka chunks
½ cup shredded mozzarella
Thinly sliced onion, green capsicum and tomatoes remove seeds.
Mixed herbs and oregano to sprinkle on top

Method

Place oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Defrost frozen Chunks inside refrigerator until thawed. Heat a non-stick or lightly oiled pan. Spread already thawed Chunks in the pan turning them gently through heating over medium heat. Set aside.

Remove frozen pastry sheets from box and paper wrappings. Thaw pastry sheets at room temperature for about 40 minutes or until pastry unfolds easily, but pastry is still cold. Unfold pastry on a lightly floured surface. Now take muffins tray and grease each tray generously with butter or oil to avoid sticking of your tart. Coming back to our puff pastry, now roll it with your roller take flower shape cookie cutter and cut out as flowers as I did. Re-roll the scraps and cut more flowers, you should be able to get 24 flower shaped dough pieces. Center each flower over a mini muffin depression carefully.

Spoon 1 teaspoon pizza sauce into the center of each pastry flower tart, and spread to a thin layer. Place chunks over it and then sliced onions, capsicum and tomatoes. Sprinkle each tart with ½ tablespoon shredded mozzarella cheese. Generously sprinkle each with mixed herbs and oregano.

Bake in 400 degree oven for 13-17 minutes, rotating trays halfway through baking time, until the pastry is golden brown and puffed. Carefully remove from oven, place on a serving tray, and garnish with fresh herbs. Enjoy

Pizza Tarts

Tiramisu Cake

Ingredients for the Cake

2 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 sticks (10 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup buttermilk

Method

Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 9×2 inch round cake pans(u can use square pan in same size), dust the insides with flour, tap out the excess, and line the bottoms of the pans with parchment or wax paper. Put the pans on a baking sheet. 

To make the Cake

1) Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2) Working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until soft and creamy. Add the sugar and beat for another 3 minutes. Add the eggs one by one, and then the yolk, beating for 1 minute after each addition. Beat in the vanilla; don’t be concerned if the mixture looks curdled. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk, adding the dry ingredients in 3 additions and the milk in 2 (begin and end with the dry ingredients); scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed and mix only until the ingredients disappear into the batter. Divide the batter evenly between the two pans and smooth the tops with a rubber spatula. 
3) Bake for 28 to 30 minutes, rotating the pans at the midway point. When fully baked, the cakes will be golden and springy to the touch and a thin knife inserted into the centers will come out clean. Transfer the cakes to a rack and cool for about 5 minutes, then run a knife around the sides of the cakes, unmold them, and peel off the paper liners. Invert and cool to room temperature right-side up. 

For the espresso extract:(Homemade coffee Extract)

Ingredients.
2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
2 tablespoons boiling water
Method: Stir the espresso powder and boiling water together in a small cup until blended. Set aside.

For the Espresso Syrup

1/2 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon Almond Essence 
Method:
Stir the water and sugar together in a small saucepan and bring just to a boil. Pour the syrup into a small heatproof bowl and stir in 1 tablespoon of the espresso extract and the liqueur or brandy; set aside.(u will need this syrup for soaking the cake.)

For the filling and frosting

1 8-ounce container mascarpone(If u dont get u can use cream cheese)
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted(powdered sugar)
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla essence
1 tablespoon almond essence/vanilla essence
1 cup cold heavy cream
2 1/2 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, grated(i used chocolate chip) 
Cocoa powder, for dusting
Method:
1) Put the mascarpone, sugar, vanilla, and liqueur in a large bowl and whisk just until blended and smooth.
2) Working with the stand mixer with the whisk attachment or with a hand mixer, whip the heavy cream until it holds firm peaks. Switch to a rubber spatula and stir about one quarter of the whipped cream into the mascarpone. Fold in the rest of the whipped cream with a light touch. 

To assemble the Cake

1) If the tops of the cake layers have crowned, use a long serrated knife and a gentle sawing motion to even them. Place one layer right-side up on a cardboard round or a cake plate protected with strips of wax or parchment paper. Using a pastry brush or a small spoon, soak the layer with about one third of the espresso syrup. Smooth some of the mascarpone cream over the layer – user about 1 1/4 cups – and gently press the grated chocolate into the filling. Put the second cake layer on the counter and soak the top of it with half the remaining espresso syrup, then turn the layer over and position it, soaked side down, over the filling. Soak the top of the cake with the remaining syrup. 

2) For the frosting, whisk 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons of the remaining espresso extract into the remaining mascarpone filling. Taste the frosting as you go to decide how much extract you want to add. If the frosting looks as if it might be a little too soft to spread over the cake, press a piece of plastic wrap against its surface and refrigerate it for 15 minutes or so. Refrigerate the cake too. 

3) With a long metal icing spatula, smooth the frosting around the sides of the cake and over the top. If you want to decorate the cake with chocolate-covered espresso beans, press them into the filling, making concentric circles of beans or just putting some beans in the center of the cake. 

4) Refrigerate the cake for at least 3 hours (or for up to 1 day) before serving – the elements need time to meld.

5) Just before serving, dust the top of the cake with cocoa.

Tiramisu Cake