Triple Chocolate Cake

This was supposed to be for a goodbye party for a friend that I attended.  However, I got a phone call from the organizer that the venue was not letting us bring in our own cake.  It then became mine to share with family.  Three types of chocolate in one cake – just like my wedding cake.  However, I didn’t want a heavy cake.  I figured using my favorite chocolate cake recipe was a good start.  For the filling, I was inspired by my favorite cake from my local bakery, chocolate fudge.   Reading online, I found that you can whip chocolate ganache to be fluffier.   I was sold.  Lastly, I felt that I needed a light chocolate buttercream.  Swiss-buttercream is always a crowd pleaser and its light.  It was the perfect topping.   Apparently, I did not make enough ganache to fill all of the layers of the cake.  Instead, I filled the middle layer with some chocolate swiss buttercream.  Next time, I would double the recipe or make two types – dark and white.  Verdict from the Polka Dot family – YUM!, including from my sister who never eats cake.

I couldn't wait to take a bite!

My favorite Chocolate Cake: 

Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Cake

2 cups sugar

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup HERSHEY’S Cocoa

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

Directions:
Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.  Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.   Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.

Whipped Chocolate Ganache 

Adapted from Savory Sweet Life  

12 ounces chocolate, chopped into small pieces (I used dark chocolate chips)

1 cup heavy cream

Directions:

Place chocolate pieces in a large bowl.  Heat heavy cream on medium high until it comes to a boil. Remove from heat and immediately pour cream over chocolate and stir until completely mixed and glossy.  Stick it in the fridge to cool down.  Whip the ganache into a frosting.  Be careful when you whip as it if you whip too long, it will curdle and look like the start of butter.

Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream

From Martha Stewart 

5 large egg whites

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

Pinch of salt

1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons, room temperature

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

4 ½ ounces of semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled

Directions

1.       Combine egg whites, sugar, and salt in the heatproof bowl of a standing mixer set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly by hand until mixture is warm to the touch and sugar has dissolved (the mixture should feel completely smooth when rubbed between your fingertips).

2.       Attach the bowl to the mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Starting on low and gradually increasing to medium-high speed, whisk until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Continue mixing until the mixture is fluffy and glossy, and completely cool (test by touching the bottom of the bowl), about 10 minutes.

3.       With mixer on medium-low speed, add the butter a few tablespoons at a time, mixing well after each addition. Once all butter has been added, fold in vanilla and semisweet chocolate.  Switch to the paddle attachment, and continue beating on low speed until all air bubbles are eliminated, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl with a flexible spatula, and continue beating until the frosting is completely smooth. Keep buttercream at room temperature if using the same day.

Once each individual component is completed, put the cake together.  I made four layers out of the chocolate cake.  Be aware, they were thin and could break very easily.  Alternate filling the cake with chocolate ganache and chocolate buttercream. 

A couple of years ago, I found this beautifully decorated cake on Martha Stewart.  Ruffles all around the cake.  Such a simple decoration for a cake.  It was exactly what I was looking for.

I found a video on you tube to help me and tried my best.  Not the worst first attempt. 

 

Enjoy!