I have been taking a short break from posts, as I’m currently eating my way through Italy on a food science study abroad program. (Which I can’t wait to share about later!)
But with Father’s Day coming up, I thought I would pop in to share this magical chocolate cake recipe. I made it for my dad before I left as an early celebration, and boy did it disappear fast!
The cake is perfectly fluffy and oh so moist (I know many of you hate that word, but it is what it is…) with deep chocolatey flavor and a balance of sweetness. It’s filled with rich, smooth dark chocolate ganache, AND covered in light and fluffy chocolate buttercream. To finish it off are none other than chocolate-dipped strawberries and pecans.
It’s a chocolate-lover’s DREAM!
Chocolate Cake with Fudgy Ganache and Chocolate Buttercream
Notes
*The pictures show half of this recipe, baked in a 7" pan (bottom) and 6" pan (top). For the full recipe, use two 9" round pans. Alternatively, use three 8" cake pans, bake on the shorter side because they'll be a little thinner (20-21 min), and increase ganache to 3 oz chocolate and 3.5 Tbsp cream for the two middle layers.
**For extra frosting, double the recipe and use as desired. Unused frosting can be regrigerated or frozen.
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 180 g | 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1.25 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 1.5 tsp baking soda
- 1.5 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/2 cup neutral oil (melted coconut oil, almond oil, avocado oil, etc.)
- 2 eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
- 1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 tsp espresso powder
For the ganache:
- 2 oz 72% dark chocolate
- 2.5 Tbsp heavy cream
For the chocolate buttercream:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 2.25 cups powdered sugar
- ~2 Tbsp milk or cream
- 1/2 tsp espresso powder (opt.)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (opt.)
For the chocolate-covered toppings:
- 1.5 oz high quality dark chocolate
- Handful strawberries, pecans, or any other fruit or nut
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Grease 2 9" nonstick cake pans* with cooking spray, or generously with softened coconut oil.
- Sift flour and cacao (if lumpy), and mix with sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat oil, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients to wet and stir.
- Microwave 1 cup water to just below a boil; add espresso powder. Slowly pour hot coffee into batter while stirring continuously.
- Divide batter evenly between greased cake pans. Transfer to oven and bake 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool pans completely on a wire rack.
- Make the ganache. Break chocolate and set inside a bowl. Microwave heavy cream just until it begins to bubble. Pour hot cream over chocolate. Let it sit, undisturbed, about 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. When cakes have cooled completely, remove from pans. Spread the ganache over the top of one of the cakes; place the other cake on top.
- Make the chocolate buttercream. Add butter to a large mixing bowl and begin mixing with an electric mixer. Gradually add cacao and mix on medium-high until incorporated. Add sugar 1/2 cup at a time while mixing. Add a little milk/cream as needed to reach desired consistency. Add espresso powder and vanilla for additional flavor, if desired. Whip on high speed until light and fluffy. Spread all over top and sides of cooled layered cake.
- Top it off. Heat chocolate in a small bowl until melted. Dip fruit and/or nuts into chocolate, then set on a pan lined with parchment paper. Transfer to fridge or freezer to set. Place on top of cake to decorate.
- Store cake covered at room temperature until ready to eat. If storing for more than a day, remove any fruit and store in an air-tight container in fridge.