Ultimate Chocolate Indulgence Cake:

Ultimate Chocolate Indulgence Cake

Ingredients

• For the Chocolate Cake:
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup boiling water
• For the Whipped Cream Filling:
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• For the Chocolate Ganache:
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped

Instructions

Baking the Cake

1. Preheat Oven: Heat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Add Wet Ingredients: Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla to the flour mixture and mix until well combined. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin).
4. Bake: Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
5. Cool: Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pans to cool completely on a wire rack.

Preparing the Whipped Cream Filling

1. Whip Cream: In a chilled bowl, beat heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.

Making the Chocolate Ganache

1. Heat Cream: Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until it begins to gently simmer.
2. Make Ganache: Put chopped chocolate in a bowl. Pour hot cream over chocolate and let stand 1 minute, then stir until smooth.

Assembling the Cake

1. Layer Cake: Place one cake layer on your serving plate. Spread with half of the whipped cream. Sprinkle with crushed chocolate pieces if desired.
2. Add Second Layer: Top with the second cake layer. Spread remaining whipped cream over the top.
3. Top with Ganache: Pour ganache over the cake, allowing some to drip down the sides.