Poinsettia Cake

Prepare cake mix as label directs for 9-inch 2-layer cake.

Prepare chocolate leaves: Line small cookie sheet with waxed paper. Rinse lemon leaves; pat completely dry with paper towels. Chop 2 squares semisweet chocolate; reserve remaining 6 squares for chocolate glaze. In heavy small saucepan over low heat, heat chopped chocolate, stirring, just until melted. With pastry brush or small metal spatula, spread layer of melted chocolate on underside of each leaf. Place chocolate-coated leaves on cookie sheet and refrigerate until ready to use. Wash and dry saucepan.

Prepare butter cream: in same saucepan over low heat, heat milk chocolate, stirring, just until melted; remove saucepan from heat. In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat confectioners' sugar, shortening, margarine or butter, milk, and vanilla extract just until mixed. Increase speed to high; beat until light and fluffy, scraping bowl often. Reduce speed to medium; beat in melted milk chocolate.

Place 1 cake layer on cake plate (tuck strips of waxed paper under edge of cake to keep cake plate clean); spread with 1 cup butter cream; top with second cake layer. Spread top and side of cake with remaining butter cream. Chill cake 30 minutes.

Prepare chocolate glaze: Chop remaining 6 squares semisweet chocolate; place in medium bowl. In small saucepan over low heat, heat heavy or whipping cream just to boiling. Pour cream over chopped chocolate; let stand 1 minute; gently stir until chocolate melts. Let stand at room temperature until glaze begins to thicken, about 10 minutes.

Pour chocolate glaze over cake. With metal spatula, spread glaze to completely cover top and side of cake. Chill cake 15 minutes to set glaze. Remove and discard waxed paper.

Garnish cake: With cool hands, carefully peel each leaf from chocolate. Arrange chocolate leaves and cranberries on top of cake to resemble a poinsettia flower. Refrigerate cake if not serving right away. Remove cake from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving to soften chocolate glaze for easier slicing.