🎂 Decadent Chocolate Layered Cake
📝 Intro
Rich. Moist. Chocolatey. This Chocolate Layered Cake is every chocoholic’s dream come true! 🍫 With soft, fluffy layers of chocolate sponge and a silky chocolate ganache or buttercream in between, this cake is perfect for birthdays, celebrations — or just because you deserve something amazing. ✨
Whether you go simple or dress it up with fruit, nuts, or a drip glaze, this cake is a total showstopper.
🍫 Ingredients
For the chocolate cake layers (3 x 8-inch pans or 2 x 9-inch pans):
• 250 g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
• 80 g (⅔ cup) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 300 g (1½ cups) granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 240 ml (1 cup) milk (or buttermilk for extra richness)
• 120 ml (½ cup) vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 240 ml (1 cup) hot coffee or hot water
For the chocolate frosting (ganache or buttercream):
Option 1: Chocolate Buttercream
• 200 g (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 300 g (2½ cups) powdered sugar
• 75 g (⅔ cup) cocoa powder
• 2–3 tbsp milk or cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
Option 2: Chocolate Ganache (richer and less sweet)
• 300 g (10 oz) dark chocolate, chopped
• 250 ml (1 cup) heavy cream
• 2 tbsp butter (optional, for shine)
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Bake the cake layers
1 Preheat oven to 175°C / 350°F. Grease and line your cake pans.
2 In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3 In another bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, milk, oil, and vanilla until smooth.
4 Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet.
5 Stir in hot coffee or water – the batter will be thin, but that’s okay!
6 Divide between pans and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7 Let cool completely before assembling.
2. Make the frosting
Buttercream: Beat butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar, cocoa, salt, and vanilla. Mix. Add milk one spoon at a time until desired consistency.
Ganache: Heat cream until simmering, pour over chocolate. Let sit 2 mins, then stir until glossy. Add butter if using. Cool until spreadable.
3. Assemble the cake
• Level cake layers if needed.
• Place one layer on a cake stand, spread with frosting.
• Repeat with the next layers.
• Cover entire cake with frosting or ganache.
• Chill before slicing for clean cuts.
✨ Optional Add-ons
• Fresh berries 🍓
• Chocolate shavings or curls 🍫
• Nuts (hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts) 🌰
• Gold dust, drip glaze, or sprinkles for decoration ✨