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–+ servings
chocolate cake on upside down white plate with parchment paper, chocolate curls and empty glasses behind

The Ultimate Dark Chocolate Layer Cake with Whipped Dark Chocolate Ganache

5 from 8 votes
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Refrigeration Time 3 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Author: Traci Crossland
Every bite of this Dark Chocolate Layer Cake is rich, decadent, moist, perfectly sweet, and extra chocolate-y. It's truly SO. GOOD. With double the chocolate, there's definitely a reason that this cake is the ultimate dark chocolate cake!

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1 cup dark cocoa, sifted
  • 1 ¼ cup boiling water
  • 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • 2 ¼ cups sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • ⅔ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 ¼ cups milk, room temperature
  • 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Ganache

  • 4 cups dark chocolate couverture
  • 4 cups heavy cream
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cake

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Spray 4 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine cocoa and boiling water. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, vegetable oil, milk, and vanilla.
  • Pour egg mixture into flour mixture and whisk until well blended, about a minute.
  • Stir in chocolate.
  • Spoon batter evenly into pans and bake for 20 - 25 minutes, until cake tests done.

Ganache

  • In a large microwave safe bowl, combine chocolate and heavy cream.
  • Microwave on high power in 30 second intervals, stirring after each, until melted and smooth.
  • Pour into a clean, glass container.
  • Cover with plastic wrap, making sure it touches the surface of the chocolate.
  • Refrigerate 2-3 hours, until completely chilled.
  • Remove from refrigerator.
  • Spoon into bowl of stand mixer.
  • Beat until light and fluffy, about 30 seconds.

Putting It Together

  • Using a serrated knife or cake leveler, slice the top off each cooled cake layer so that it is level with the sides.
  • Place one layer on serving plate or cake board.
  • Top with ½-¾ cup ganache.
  • Spread.
  • Top with another cake layer.
  • Repeat filling and layering.
  • Once all layers have been used, spread remaining ganache on top and sides of cake.

Notes

  • You can boil the water in a microwave, on the stove top, or in a kettle!
  • Mixing the boiling water and cocoa powder is a technique called, "blooming". This allows for the powder to dissolve and release all of it's amazing flavors. That means you wind up with a much more flavorful and delicious cake!
  • Be sure to check the expiration dates on your baking powder and baking soda
  • Use a cake tester or a toothpick to test when this cake is done.
  • Do NOT over-whip the ganache!
  • You may need to level the cake layers before assembling. The best way to do this is with a cake leveler or a serrated knife.
  • Pipe the whipped ganache between each layer of cake! This ensures no tearing of the cake and helps provide more even layers!
  • When assembling the cake, it's best to keep your offset spatula clean.
  • You can decorate this cake however you wish!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 SliceCalories: 1090kcalCarbohydrates: 104gProtein: 13gFat: 78gSaturated Fat: 42gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 23gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 158mgSodium: 483mgPotassium: 250mgFiber: 11gSugar: 66gVitamin A: 1275IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 160mgIron: 3mg

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.