Chocolate Pomegranate Petit Fours

INGREDIENTS

• For the Cake:
• 1 cup sugar
• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• ¾ tsp. baking powder
• ¾ tsp. baking soda
• 1 Tb. instant coffee granules
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1 egg
• ½ cup buttermilk
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• ½ cup scalding hot water
• For the Pomegranate Cream:
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• ¼ cup flour
• For the Chocolate Cream:
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup milk
• 2 Tb. flour
• 1 Tb. cocoa powder
• 2 oz. dark chocolate, melted and cooled to room temp.
• For the Pomegranate Poured Fondant:
• 1 cup plain shortening
• 6-8 cups powdered sugar