Description
This dreamy chocolate cake is rich, moist, and layered with a silky strawberry mascarpone frosting that’s fruity, creamy, and just the right amount of sweet. A perfect dessert for birthdays, holidays, or anytime you want to wow.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup hot coffee or water
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
- 1 cup mascarpone cheese (chilled)
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, mix eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Combine with the dry ingredients.
- Slowly add hot coffee and stir until the batter is smooth and pourable.
- Divide batter between pans and bake for 28–32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
- In a saucepan, cook chopped strawberries over medium heat for 5–7 minutes until soft. Cool, then puree and strain if needed.
- In a chilled bowl, beat mascarpone, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Slowly add heavy cream and beat until fluffy.
- Fold in cooled strawberry puree gently to create the frosting.
- Place one cake layer on a serving plate, spread frosting on top, then repeat with second layer and frost top and sides.
- Chill before serving. Garnish with fresh strawberries if desired.
Notes
- Don’t overmix the mascarpone to avoid curdling.
- Cool strawberry puree completely before folding it into the frosting.
- You can bake the cake layers a day ahead and frost later.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 270mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: chocolate cake, mascarpone frosting, strawberry cake, birthday dessert, fruit frosting