Apricot-Pomegranate Ginger Spice cake with Yogurt Glaze

Longest title ever, for a really quick, deluxe-seeming cake.  

Shh!  It's not!

I cheated and utilized a box mix, because I was completely out of all purpose flour, and a wheat flour cake didn't sound particularly tasty...

Pomegranate Molasses

Cake

• 1 Yellow cake mix
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp ginger powder
• 1/4 cup grated fresh ginger
• 1 cup water*
• 1/3 cup oil*
• 3 eggs*

Glaze

• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Filling

• 1 /2 cup apricot preserves
• 1/4 cup pomegranate molasses

1. Heat oven to 350°F.  In a large bowl make cake mix according to directions, adding cinnamon, powdered ginger, and fresh ginger.  Split between two 9" pans, and bake approximately 32 minutes, or time directed by package directions.
2. In a lidded container combine yogurt, vanilla, and powdered sugar.  Stir well, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
3. Mix pomegranate molasses and apricot preserves in a small bowl, set aside.
4. When cake is finished baking, remove from the pan and cool on a wire rack.  Using a long knife, level the top of the cake, by slicing horizontally.  Fill with the fruit mix, and stack the two cakes.  
5. Starting at the center, pour on and spread out the yogurt glaze, allowing it to drip over the edges.  Drizzle with pomegranate molasses for a final touch :)
6. Refrigerate, and serve within a few hours- the yogurt quickly penetrates the cake.

Notes:

• The **ed ingredients are what was called for on MY cake mix box- use whatever your cake mix calls for.
• Pomegranate molasses can be found at most international markets, and many supermarkets stock it in the international section.  If you're one of those people that hates buying an ingredient just for ONE recipe, don't fear.  Pomegranate molasses is wonderful on vanilla ice cream, mixed into plain applesauce, or I can personally eat it by the spoonful....
• Fresh ginger can be stored in the freezer- leave it in root form and simply toss it in a ziplock bag.  When you're ready to use it, peel it with a paring knife and grate away.  (On the contrary if you are using room temperature ginger, peel it with a spoon- just try it!)

Yields 12 servings

Berry Trifle

This dessert is ALWAYS a hit, and it consists of only a few store bought components.  I feel like Semi-Homemade Sandra Lee or something, guh she scares me a little.  She's like PTO mom, meets Martha Stewart, meets Stepford wife.  AND HAVE YOU NOTICED HER KITCHEN CHANGES TO MATCH THE THEME OF EVERY EPISODE?!  It's borderline ridiculous.  Plus I always scoff at her tablescapes...  and clearly I have watched far too much of her on television despite my mild fear of her.  I should probably spend my time doing more productive things, like making trifles. 
Because they're delicious.

oh and don't judge my cheesy smile,  this is the best photo of this dessert I had lying around.

Individual Molten Chocolate Cakes

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate cut into bite-size chunks
• 5 large eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 4 teaspoons flour
  
• 8 ramekins
  

1. Heat oven to 450•F, and adjust oven rack to the middle.
   
2. Melt butter and chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water; remove from heat. Beat eggs, sugar and salt with a hand mixer in a medium bowl until sugar dissolves. Beat egg mixture into chocolate until smooth. Beat in flour until just combined.
3. Spray ramekins with vegetable cooking spray. Divide batter among cups.
4. Bake until batter puffs but center is not set, 8 to 12 minutes.
   

Notes:

• The quality of chocolate directly impacts flavor. You can use chocolate chips, but I wouldn't encourage it unless they are wax-free (Ghirardelli chocolate chips don't have wax in them for instance).
• I recommend making the batter ahead of time, dividing amongst the ramekins and storing in the fridge a few hours before, it makes serving them a breeze, and I've found it lends to a richer and denser cake. Keep in mind however the baking time will increase slightly.

Yields 8 cakes.