Double Chocolate Layer Cake
Anyone that knows me knows that I am a huge chocolate cake fan. Growing up, I used to insist on chocolate mousse cake for every celebratory occasion. Not just any cake either, I wanted it covered in a chocolate ganache, chocolate shavings, and decorated with delicious marzipan. Because I have been eating it for so long, I consider myself to be somewhat of a connoisseur. I can tell when a bakery uses cheap ingredients or fillers so unless I know a bakery is really good, I bake at home. My go to chocolate cake recipe is one that I found in my Gourmet magazine back in 1999.....yes, I have been making it for that long! I have tested many different brands of chocolate, cocoa powders, and coffees, in the process but believe I have come up with the perfect combination now. I do prefer to use chopped up whole chocolate bars but this time I was in a pinch so I took a shortcut and used the chips.
Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think! It may just end up being the only chocolate cake recipe you will ever need!
Double Chocolate Layer Cake
For the cake:
3 ounces of fine-quality semisweet chocolate (I use Guittard)
1 1/2 cups of a strong freshly brewed coffee (such as Starbuck's)
3 cups of sugar
2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups of unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch processed)
2 tsp. of baking soda
3/4 tsp. of baking powder
1 1/4 tsp. of salt
3 large eggs (room temperature)
3/4 cup of canola oil
1 1/2 cups of buttermilk (shaken well)
3/4 tsp. of pure vanilla extract
For the ganache frosting:
1 lb. of fine-quality semisweet chocolate (I use Guittard)
1 cup of heavy cream
2 Tbsp. of sugar
2 Tbsp. of light corn syrup
1/4 cup of unsalted butter
Special Equipment:
two 10x2 inch round cake pans
parchment paper
Directions for the cake:
Preheat oven to 300 and line cake pans with parchment paper.
Combine the 3 ounces of chocolate in a small bowl with hot coffee and let stand. Whisk until chocolate has melted and mixture is smooth.
In a large bowl, sift together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl, beat the eggs with a hand mixer until slightly thickened and lemon colored (about 5 minutes or so). Slowly add oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and melted chocolate mixture to eggs. Beat until well combined. Add sifted ingredients to the egg mixture. Beat on medium speed until just well combined (careful not to over beat). Divide the batter between the pans and bake in middle of oven until a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Cool layers completely in pans on racks. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks. Carefully remove the parchment paper and cool further. Cake layers can be made one day ahead and wrapped in plastic wrap, at room temperature.
Directions for the ganache:
Place chocolate in a large bowl (if using bars of chocolate, finely chop it). In a 2-quart saucepan, bring cream, sugar, and corn syrup to a boil over low heat, whisking until sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from heat and pour over chocolate. Whisk until melted and smooth. Cut butter into pieces and add to frosting. Whisk again until smooth. Let the ganache cool. Sometimes after this step, I beat it with a hand mixer to make it lighter but that is optional.
Spread the frosting between cake layers, over the tops, and sides. Cake keeps covered and chilled for 3 days. Make sure to bring it to room temperature before serving. Lastly, enjoy!
Photos by Becky Loves Cooking
Recipe by Gourmet Magazine, March 1999 Issue
Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think! It may just end up being the only chocolate cake recipe you will ever need!
Double Chocolate Layer Cake
For the cake:
3 ounces of fine-quality semisweet chocolate (I use Guittard)
1 1/2 cups of a strong freshly brewed coffee (such as Starbuck's)
3 cups of sugar
2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups of unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch processed)
2 tsp. of baking soda
3/4 tsp. of baking powder
1 1/4 tsp. of salt
3 large eggs (room temperature)
3/4 cup of canola oil
1 1/2 cups of buttermilk (shaken well)
3/4 tsp. of pure vanilla extract
For the ganache frosting:
1 lb. of fine-quality semisweet chocolate (I use Guittard)
1 cup of heavy cream
2 Tbsp. of sugar
2 Tbsp. of light corn syrup
1/4 cup of unsalted butter
Special Equipment:
two 10x2 inch round cake pans
parchment paper
Directions for the cake:
Preheat oven to 300 and line cake pans with parchment paper.
Combine the 3 ounces of chocolate in a small bowl with hot coffee and let stand. Whisk until chocolate has melted and mixture is smooth.
In a large bowl, sift together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl, beat the eggs with a hand mixer until slightly thickened and lemon colored (about 5 minutes or so). Slowly add oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and melted chocolate mixture to eggs. Beat until well combined. Add sifted ingredients to the egg mixture. Beat on medium speed until just well combined (careful not to over beat). Divide the batter between the pans and bake in middle of oven until a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Cool layers completely in pans on racks. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks. Carefully remove the parchment paper and cool further. Cake layers can be made one day ahead and wrapped in plastic wrap, at room temperature.
Directions for the ganache:
Place chocolate in a large bowl (if using bars of chocolate, finely chop it). In a 2-quart saucepan, bring cream, sugar, and corn syrup to a boil over low heat, whisking until sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from heat and pour over chocolate. Whisk until melted and smooth. Cut butter into pieces and add to frosting. Whisk again until smooth. Let the ganache cool. Sometimes after this step, I beat it with a hand mixer to make it lighter but that is optional.
Spread the frosting between cake layers, over the tops, and sides. Cake keeps covered and chilled for 3 days. Make sure to bring it to room temperature before serving. Lastly, enjoy!
Photos by Becky Loves Cooking
Recipe by Gourmet Magazine, March 1999 Issue
Comments
Post a Comment