Description
An ultra-moist, multi-layer chocolate cake swaddled in silky fudge frosting, blooming with deep cocoa flavor and crowned with a glossy finish. Trust me, you’re going to love this.
Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour: 2 1/2 cups
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: 1 cup
- Granulated Sugar: 2 1/2 cups
- Light Brown Sugar: 1/2 cup, packed
- Baking Powder: 2 teaspoons
- Baking Soda: 1 teaspoon
- Fine Sea Salt: 1 teaspoon
- Large Eggs: 3
- Whole Milk: 1 cup
- Vegetable Oil: 1/2 cup
- Boiling Water or Hot Coffee: 1 cup
- Vanilla Extract: 2 teaspoons
- Unsalted Butter (for frosting): 1 1/2 cups, room temperature
- Powdered Sugar: 4 cups
- Heavy Cream: 1/2 cup
- Dark Chocolate, melted and slightly cooled: 8 ounces
- Optional Garnish: Chocolate curls or flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat Your Equipment: Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 8 or 9 inch round cake pans with parchment for easy release.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. In a separate bowl whisk eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Add wet to dry and mix just until combined. Slowly stream in boiling water or hot coffee, whisking until the batter is smooth and pourable.
- Prepare Your Cooking Vessel: Divide batter evenly between pans and tap gently to release air bubbles.
- Assemble the Dish: Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out to racks and cool completely.
- Cook to Perfection: For the fudge frosting, beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then mix in melted dark chocolate and heavy cream until silky and spreadable.
- Finishing Touches: Level any domed cake tops. Spread a generous layer of frosting between cakes, apply a thin crumb coat around the sides and top, chill briefly, then finish with a smooth final coat. Garnish as desired.
- Serve and Enjoy: Slice with a warm knife for clean layers and savor every decadent bite.
Notes
- Note: Blooming cocoa with hot coffee deepens chocolate flavor without making the cake taste like coffee.
- Chill the frosted cake 20 minutes before slicing for neat layers.
- Use high-quality cocoa and chocolate for the most luxurious finish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 42 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 66 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: chocolate fudge layered cake, chocolate cake recipe, fudge frosting, moist chocolate cake, layered cake, birthday cake, decadent dessert