Description
This cake is pure chocolate luxury — soft layers of moist midnight chocolate sponge, filled with silky vanilla cream, then cloaked in glossy chocolate ganache and crowned with whipped cream and chocolate shards. It’s elegant, indulgent, and surprisingly simple to assemble.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (75g) cocoa powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100g) brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ½ cup (120ml) neutral oil
- 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120ml) hot coffee (or hot water to keep caffeine-free)
- 1 ½ cups (360ml) heavy cream, cold
- 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup (90g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup (170g) semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
- ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream (hot)
- Fresh whipped cream (piped swirls)
- Chocolate shavings or chopped chocolate squares
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F / 180°C. Grease and line three 6-inch pans (or two 8-inch).
- In a bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk eggs, oil, both sugars, vanilla, and buttermilk until smooth.
- Add dry ingredients → mix until combined.
- Pour in hot coffee and stir until smooth and silky.
- Divide batter into pans and bake 22–26 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely before assembly.
- Beat cream cheese + powdered sugar + vanilla until smooth.
- Add cold heavy cream and whip to stiff, silky peaks.
- Pour hot cream over chocolate for ganache.
- Let stand 1 minute, then stir until shiny and smooth.
- Let cool slightly until thick enough to drip slowly.
- Place first cake layer → spread a thick layer of cream.
- Repeat with remaining layers.
- Pour ganache over the top and gently push to drip down the edges.
- Pipe whipped cream rosettes on top.
- Finish with chocolate shavings or chocolate chunks.
Notes
- Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for best results.
- Use high-quality chocolate for the ganache for a richer flavor.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 70mg