Mousse-in-the-Middle Cake

Source: The King Arthur Flour Company newsletter

Yield: 12 servings

There's a surprise in the middle of this golden butter cake - a center of chocolate mousse filling!

Cake
1 3/4 cups Bakers' Special Sugar* or granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter (room temperature)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon almond extract, or a few drops of bitter almond oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
3 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
3 tablespoons Instant ClearJel? (optional, but it gives
    the cake a great, moist texture)
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 cup milk

* We love to use Bakers' Special sugar for cakes; its extra-fine texture makes it very easy to cream with the butter, thereby producing a lighter cake. However, use granulated sugar if you prefer.

Filling
1 pint whipping or heavy cream
1 (4 ounce) box chocolate mousse mix

Dark Chocolate Glaze
1/2 cup heavy or whipping cream
1 cup (about 6 ounces) chopped bittersweet chocolate

Cake: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the sugar, butter, salt and flavorings until fluffy. Beat in the oil, then the eggs, one at a time, beating till the mixture is very fluffy.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, Instant ClearJel? and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the butter and egg mixture alternately with the milk, beating until well combined, about 2 minutes.

Lightly grease and flour both halves of the filled cake set, and divide the batter between them. (You may also prepare this cake in two regular 9 x 2-inch round cake pans.) Bake the cake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 40 to 45 minutes, until the edges have started to pull away from the sides of the pan. Cool the cake for 15 minutes before removing it from the pans.

Filling: Follow the directions on the package to prepare the mousse. Divide the mousse between the two halves of the cake, then invert the top half over the bottom half (you're forming a tunnel for the filling here).

Glaze: In a small bowl in the microwave, or a small saucepan set over low heat, prepare the glaze by melting together the cream and chocolate. Drizzle it over the cake.