3 Layer Chocolate Cake Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa and baking soda; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Fold in coconut and pecans., Pour into three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add the confectioners' sugar, cocoa, vanilla and salt; beat until smooth. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Store in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees F.
• Set oven to second-lowest rack.
• Grease three 9-inch round cake pans, then line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• In a heat proof medium mixing bowl mix together the boiling water with cocoa powder and coffee granules until completely combined; allow to cool for about 20 minutes or until room temperature.
• In another bowl sift the flour with baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl cream butter with both sugars and vanilla until fluffy.
• Add in eggs and beat for about 3-4 minutes.
• Add in the flour mixture alternately with the cocoa mixture until combined.
• Divide the mixture evenly beweeen the cake pans.
• Bake for about 25-35 minutes or until cakes test done.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two 8-inch cake pans with nonstick cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment. Spray the parchment and dust with flour.
• Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
• Beat together the butter and sugar in a stand mixer until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the eggs one at time and beat until incorporated. Add the sour cream and continue to beat until fully incorporated. Then add the vanilla.
• Stir together the instant espresso powder with the hot water in a spouted measuring cup. With the mixer running, add the dry ingredients in two additions, alternating with the espresso.
• Divide the batter between the cake pans and bake until a tester inserted in the centers comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool the cakes in the pans on a rack for 10 minutes, then remove the cakes to the rack to cool completely.
• Slice a thin layer from the top of each cooled cake with a serrated knife to remove the domed top. With a serrated knife, slice the layers in half horizontally to make 4 layers. Spread buttercream on the cut side of a layer and sandwich another layer on top. Repeat with the remaining frosting and layers, leaving the last top layer unfrosted.
• Apply a thin crumb-coat of frosting to the entire cake and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes to set. Use the remaining frosting to generously frost the cake.
• Put the egg whites and sugar into a large bowl set over a double boiler. Whisk constantly until the sugar melts and the mixture is very thin and warm.
• Pour the egg whites into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whisk on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Turn to low speed and continue beating until cool, about 10 minutes.
• Turn the mixer to medium speed and whisk in the butter in small pieces. (The mixture may look curdled before it comes together.) Add the vanilla extract. Re-beat the mixture as needed to keep it smooth as you frost your cake.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans. Cut 3 circles of waxed paper or parchment paper to fit the bottoms of the pans, then press them in.
• In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer), cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar and eggs and mix until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the vanilla, cocoa, baking soda and salt and mix. Add 1/2 of the flour, then 1/2 of the sour cream and mix. Repeat with the remaining flour and sour cream. Drizzle in the hot coffee and mix until smooth. The batter will be thin. Pour into the prepared pans and bake until the tops are firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (a few crumbs are okay), about 35 minutes. Halfway through the baking, quickly rotate the pans in the oven to ensure even baking, but otherwise try not to open the oven. Let cool in the pan 10 minutes. Turn out onto wire racks and let cool completely before frosting.
• Frosting: In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Drizzle in the melted chocolate and mix. Add the coffee and vanilla and mix. Add the sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Mix until well blended and fluffy. To frost the cake, use a spatula to cover 2 of the cake layers with frosting. Stack them together. Flip the third cake layer over and rest it on the top to create a very flat top for the cake. Frost on the sides and top. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Steps:

• Prep the pans: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Fold a large sheet of parchment paper in half; put a 10-inch-round cake pan on top. Trace the cake pan, then cut out the circle to make two rounds of parchment. Spray two 10-inch cake pans with cooking spray; fit a parchment round into each. Spray the pans again, then dust with flour and tap out the excess.
• Make the batter: Pour the coffee into a liquid measuring cup or bowl; whisk in the cocoa powder. Put the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer; mix with the paddle attachment on low speed, 1 minute. Add the eggs, vegetable oil, vanilla and 2 cups water; beat on medium speed, 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low; beat in the coffee-cocoa mixture in a slow stream until combined. The batter will be thin.
• Bake the cakes: Divide the batter between the prepared pans. Bake until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool in the pans on a rack, 10 minutes, then turn the cakes out onto the rack to cool completely. Place each cake on a 10-inch cardboard cake circle (this helps stabilize the layers as you move them around), wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Make the ganache: Pulverize the bittersweet chocolate in a large food processor. Bring the cream just to a boil. With the motor running, pour the hot cream through the feed tube; process until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl and set in a bowl of ice water. Chill, stirring often, until the ganache is cool but not stiff, about 20 minutes.
• Make the bark: Microwave the white chocolate in 15-second intervals until two-thirds melted; stir to fully melt. Scrape into a zip-top bag and seal. Put a plastic sheet protector on each of 2 baking sheets. Snip a corner of the bag; pipe thin lines of white chocolate over the sheets.
• Refrigerate the baking sheets until the white chocolate is set, about 10 minutes, then repeat the process with the milk chocolate, piping thin lines over the white chocolate. Refrigerate until the milk chocolate is set.
• Melt the bittersweet chocolate in the same way, then spread over the white and milk chocolate lines using an offset spatula. Refrigerate until hard, about 30 minutes.
• Peel the sheet protectors off the chocolate and break the chocolate sheets into shards of various sizes.
• Slice the layers: Put one cake on a cake turntable. Position a long serrated knife against the side of the cake, about halfway down. Slowly rotate the turntable so the knife slices the cake in half horizontally. Don't move the knife much-let the rotation of the turntable do the work. Repeat with the other cake to make 4 layers; transfer each to a cardboard circle. (If you don't have a turntable, carefully slice the cakes in half on a cutting board.)
• Frost the cake: Transfer half of the ganache to a bowl and whisk until light brown and fluffy. Place one cake layer (still on a cardboard circle) on the turntable; spoon one-third of the whipped ganache on top. Rotate the turntable to smooth the ganache with a long spatula (or just assemble and frost on a cake plate). Repeat to sandwich all 4 cake layers with whipped ganache. Spread all but about 1/2 cup of the unwhipped ganache over the top and sides of the cake.
• Decorate the cake: Press the chocolate bark against the sides of the cake, using small dollops of the remaining ganache to help the pieces stick, if necessary.

Steps:

• Cake layers:.
• Preheat oven to 300°F and grease 3 - 9 inch pans. Line greased pan bottoms with rounds of wax paper and grease paper.
• Finely chop chocolate and in a bowl combine with hot coffee and liqueur. Let mixture stand, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
• Into a large bowl sift together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• In another large bowl with an electric mixer beat eggs until thickened slightly and lemon colored (about 3 minutes with a standing mixer or 5 minutes with a hand-held mixer). Slowly add oil, buttermilk, vanilla, almond extract and melted chocolate mixture to eggs, beating until combined well. Add sugar mixture and beat on medium speed until just combined well.
• Divide batter between 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 wax paper and pour liqueur over layers.
• Spread carefully preserves over all 3 layers.
• Cool completely. Cake layers may be made 1 day ahead and kept, wrapped well in plastic wrap, at room temperature.
• Frosting:.
• Finely chop chocolate. In a 1 1/2- to 2-quart saucepan bring cream, and sugar to a boil over moderately low heat, whisking until sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from heat and add chocolate, whisking until chocolate is melted. Cut butter into pieces and add to frosting, whisking until smooth. Mix in the liqueur.
• Transfer frosting to a bowl and cool, stirring occasionally, until spreadable (depending on chocolate used, it may be necessary to chill frosting to spreadable consistency). I found that stirring this over a bowl of ice water did a great job of cooling it off quickly and evenly.
• Spread frosting between cake layers and over top and sides. Decorate with almond slices. Cake keeps, covered and chilled, 3 days. Bring cake to room temperature before serving.

Steps:

• 1st layer.
• Mix chopped pecans, flour, and softened butter.
• Put in 9x13 inch pan.
• Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees, take out and cool.
• 2nd layer.
• Whip and spread cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1 cup plus two tablespoons cool whip.
• Spread on cool crust and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
• 3rd layer.
• Mix chocolate pudding with milk. Beat for 2 minutes.
• Refrigerate 10 minutes.
• Spread on top of other layers.
• Top with cool whip, and sprinkle with nuts on top.

Steps:

• Start by making the Cake:.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease the bottom of (3) 9" round pans. (I used a basic 3 pack of tin foil pans located in the baking section of the grocery store.) Set butter out on counter so it can soften at room temperature, salt for cake and filling. Put a metal bowl in the freezer to chill so it will be ready when you make the mousse.
• Sift flours together (sorghum flour, tapioca flour, and white rice flour). Add cocoa, xanthan gum, baking soda, cream of tarter and salt. (note: if you are using salted butter do NOT add salt.) (note: if you do NOT have a corn allergy you can replace 4 1/2 teaspoons baking soda and 1 7/8 cream of tarter with 3/4 teaspoon baking soda and 3 3/4 teaspoons baking powder.).
• In a separate large bowl, beat the butter until creamy (note: the longer you leave it setting out at room temperature the easier this will be). Slowly add the brown sugar and granulated white sugar, whip until fluffy.
• Add the eggs and egg yolks one at a time to the butter sugar mixture. Then add the vanilla.
• Turn the mixer to low and alternately add the flour mixture and coconut milk to the butter/egg/sugar mixture. (note: it will be very thick and difficult to mix, just take your time so it gets consistently mixed at each point).
• Pour (or scoop) equal amounts of the mixture into the prepared pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the cake is springy to the touch and a tooth pick comes out clean. Set on cooling racks to cool. Let the cakes cool completely before attempting to stack. If you would like a smooth edge you can trim the cakes to be the same size prior to adding chocolate mousse layers.
• While the cake is baking, prepare the mousse filling/frosting (I made a double batch):.
• Cut the butter into small cubes. In a small microwaveable bowl, combine the chocolate chips and butter. Melt in the microwave for 20-30 seconds at a time until smooth. Be careful not to boil he chocolate as it will change the consistency of the mousse and make a huge mess in the microwave.
• Add vanilla and 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream to the chocolate/butter mixture until combine.
• Remove metal bowl from freezer, combine chocolate/butter mixture and remaining heavy whipping cream using a hand mixer. Whip until smooth and firm peaks begin to form. Do not over whip as the mousse will break and have a graining appearance. Cover mousse with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Putting the cake together:.
• Put a small amount of mousse and spread it in the center of the pan or plate you are making the cake on, this will keep it from moving while you frost it.
• Place the first layer of cake on top of the mousse, cover the top of the cake with mousse mixture. Repeat by stacking the next layer on top of the mousse. Using a cake knife or smooth spatula, cover the outside of the cake with mousse (the same way you apply frosting to a cake). Using a decorating bag filled with remaining mousse mixture, decorate the edges and top of the cake. If the mousse starts to melt or if your work space is warm, you may need to move mousse back to the refrigerator between layers to prevent it from melting). You can also use shredded coconut, chocolate chips, or chocolate shavings if you prefer for decoration.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve and left overs. I refrigerated mine over night before serving and it was still delicious and moist for 3-4 days after cutting.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of 3 greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa and baking soda. Beat in mayonnaise, coffee and vanilla. Transfer batter to prepared pans. Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely., For filling, in a small heavy saucepan, mix sugar and cornstarch. Whisk in milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat to low; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Cool completely. In a large bowl, cream butter. Gradually beat in cooled mixture. Stir in chocolate chips., For ganache, place chocolate in a large bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; let stand 5 minutes. Stir with a whisk until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Refrigerate, covered, until cold. Beat ganache just until soft peaks form, 15-30 seconds (do not overbeat)., Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with half of the filling. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake with ganache. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate, cream and butter. Microwave at 50% power for 1-2 minutes or until smooth, stirring twice. Cool slightly, stirring occasionally. Drizzle over cake, allowing some to flow over sides. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

Steps:

• Prepare cake batter and bake as directed on package for 2 (9-inch) round cakes, blending dry pudding mix and coffee into batter before pouring into prepared pans. Cool cakes in pans 10 min. Invert cakes onto wire racks; gently remove pans. Cool cakes completely.
• Meanwhile, melt white and dark chocolates (separately) as directed on packages. Drop spoonfuls of chocolates alternately onto parchment-covered rimmed baking sheet; swirl gently with knife. Freeze 15 min. or until firm.
• Beat cream cheese, milk and vanilla in medium bowl with mixer until blended. Gradually beat in sugar. Gently stir in COOL WHIP.
• Cut each cake horizontally in half to form 2 layers. Stack layers on plate, spreading 1 cup COOL WHIP mixture onto each of the first 3 layers to 1 inch of edge. Spread top with remaining COOL WHIP mixture.
• Break chocolate into 1- to 2-inch pieces; stand in COOL WHIP mixture on top of cake.

Steps:

• Combine the wafer crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar and butter. Press onto the bottom and 2 in. up the sides of 9-in. springform pan; set aside. , In a small bowl, beat one 8-oz. package cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/3 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Lightly beat 1 egg; add to cream cheese mixture and beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in melted chocolate and 1/3 cup sour cream. Spoon over crust. , In another bowl, beat second 8-oz. package of cream cheese, brown sugar, flour and 1/3 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Lightly beat 1 egg; add to cream cheese mixture and beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in pecans. Carefully spoon over chocolate layer. Place pan on a baking sheet., Beat 3-oz. package of cream cheese, almond extract, and remaining sugar, sour cream and vanilla until smooth. Lightly beat remaining egg; add to cream cheese mixture and beat on low speed just until combined. Carefully spoon over pecan layer. , Bake at 325° for 55-60 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight., For glaze, chop 3 oz. semisweet chocolate and place in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Remove sides of springform pan; spread glaze over top of cheesecake to within 1/2 in. of edges. Refrigerate until serving., For chocolate curls, melt remaining semisweet chocolate; spread with a spatula into a very thin layer on a baking sheet. Chill for 2 minutes or until set., Microwave white chips and oil at 70% power for 1 minute; stir. If necessary, microwave at additional 10-15 second intervals, stirring until melted. Spread with a spatula into a very thin layer on a second baking sheet. Chill for 2 minutes or until set., To make curls, push a metal spatula firmly along the baking sheet, under the chocolate, so the chocolate curls as it is pushed. (If chocolate is too firm to curl, let stand a few minutes at room temperature; refrigerate again if it becomes too soft.) Use a toothpick to carefully place each chocolate curl on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until ready to use., Arrange chocolate curls on top of cheesecake just before serving. Garnish with raspberries and mint if desired.

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan place the evaporated milk, sugar, butter, and beaten egg yolks.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.
• When it starts to bubble and get thick, remove from the heat.
• Add the pecans and coconut and then the vanilla.
• Spread on cooled cake.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line the base of three 19cm sandwich tins. Mix the flour, cocoa, bicarb and sugar in a bowl. Make a well in the centre and beat in the syrup, eggs, oil and milk with an electric whisk until smooth.
• Divide the mix between the tins, and bake for 25-30 mins until the cakes are risen and firm to the touch. Cool in the tins for 10 mins before turning out onto a cooling rack and cooling completely. At this stage, they can be frozen, well wrapped, for up to eight weeks.
• Make the bark while the cake is cooling. Melt the chocolate in short bursts in the microwave, stirring every 20 secs, until smooth. Spoon onto a parchment-lined baking tray and smooth over with a spatula to make a thinnish layer, around 35 x 20cm. Sprinkle over the chocolate chips along with the pieces of pretzel and honeycomb, then chill until solid. Remove the bark from the fridge and leave for a minute to come to room temperature before using a sharp knife to cut it into shards (if it's fridge cold, the chocolate will snap rather than cut). Chill again until you're ready to decorate the cake.
• To make the icing, melt the chocolate in the microwave, stirring between short blasts, then leave to cool a little. Meanwhile, beat the butter, icing sugar and 1 tbsp boiling water with an electric whisk or stand mixer, slowly at first, then turn up the speed and beat until you get a pale, fluffy icing. Spoon out a third of the mix into a separate bowl and stir in the peanut butter. Whisk the melted chocolate into the remainder of the icing, then beat in the cocoa if you want a darker, more chocolatey-coloured icing.
• Sandwich the three cakes together with the peanut butter icing. Use half the chocolate icing to coat the sides and top of the cake and fill in the edges between the layers, scraping off any excess. Chill for 20 mins. This is called a crumb coating, allowing you to get a really smooth finish when it comes to the final icing.
• Spread the remaining chocolate icing over the lightly chilled cake, smoothing over the sides and top so you get a neat finish. Chill again for 20 mins.
• To make the ganache, heat the cream in a small pan until steaming. Tip the dark chocolate into a bowl, then pour over the cream. Mix well until smooth and shiny. Transfer to a piping bag and leave to cool for a few mins at room temperature.
• Pipe the ganache on top of the cake, nudging it over the edge and allowing it to drip down neatly. Do this all the way round the cake, then fill in the centre with more ganache. Smooth the top with a knife. Chill for 1 hr for the ganache to set.
• Press the bark shards into the cake, sticking up. Add lots of chocolate eggs, popcorn and pretzels in and around the shards. Cut into slices to serve. Will keep for up to three days kept in a cool place in an airtight container.