Best Chocolate Fudge Cake Recipes

EASY CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line the base of two 18cm sandwich tins. Sieve the flour, cocoa powder and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Add the caster sugar and mix well.
• Make a well in the centre and add the golden syrup, eggs, sunflower oil and milk. Beat well with an electric whisk until smooth.
• Pour the mixture into the two tins and bake for 25-30 mins until risen and firm to the touch. Remove from oven, leave to cool for 10 mins before turning out onto a cooling rack.
• To make the icing, beat the unsalted butter in a bowl until soft. Gradually sieve and beat in the icing sugar and cocoa powder, then add enough of the milk to make the icing fluffy and spreadable.
• Sandwich the two cakes together with the butter icing and cover the sides and the top of the cake with more icing.

FABULOUS FUDGE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter or margarine and 2 1/2 cups brown sugar until well mixed. Add eggs one at a time. Beat in the vanilla and melted chocolate squares. Add 1/2 the sour cream and then 1/2 the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until well blended.
• Add the remaining sour cream and dry ingredients to the batter. Stir in boiling water.
• Bake in a greased 9 X 13 inch pan for 35 minutes.
• Let cool 10 minutes before icing.
• To Make Caramel Icing: First melt 1/2 cup butter in a saucepan. Stir in 1 cup brown sugar and boil about 2 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup milk and bring to a boil. Place pan in cold water and stir in the confectioners' sugar. Continue stirring until smooth. Spread over still warm cake.

CHOCOLATE PUDDING FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.
• In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, sour cream, milk, oil, water and eggs. Beat for 4 minutes, then mix in 2 cups chocolate chips.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
• To make the glaze: Melt the butter and 1 cup chocolate chips in a double boiler or microwave oven. Stir until smooth and drizzle over cake.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE WITH VANILLA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING AND CHOCOLATE GANACHE GLAZE

Steps:

• To make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Oil 3 (10-inch) cake pans and line the bottom with parchment paper. Alternately, oil the pans and then flour them.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the brown sugar and oil. Turn on the mixer to a low speed and mix in the eggs. Let the sugar, oil, and eggs mix while sifting together the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Set this mixture aside.
• In another small bowl, mix the vanilla into the milk and set this aside as well. Bring the water to a boil and pour over the cocoa and whisk it until it is smooth. To the egg mixture, alternately add the flour mixture and the milk mixture beginning and ending with flour. With the mixer off, scrape down the sides of the bowl after each addition. With the mixture at a low speed add the cocoa. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and pour this mixture into the prepared cake pans. Bake the cake for approximately 15 minutes or until tester comes out clean. When cake layers have cooled, remove from pans and refrigerate until cold.
• To make the frosting: In an electric mixing bowl place the soft butter and beat it on a low speed while adding powdered sugar. When all the sugar is mixed in, turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add in the vanilla and salt and let the mixer beat for 5 to 7 minutes on a medium speed. Fill and frost the cake and refrigerate it for 10 to 20 minutes to set up the frosting.
• To make the ganache: In a heatproof bowl, place the chocolate chips and the corn syrup. Bring the heavy cream to a full boil. Pour the cream over the chocolate and whisk it until smooth then set it aside.Pour ganache over the top of the cake and, with a cake spatula, smooth the top of the cake and allow ganache to spill over the sides. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or longer.
• Serve the cake cold or allow it to come to room temperature before serving.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Sift together flour sugar and salt.
• Set aside.
• In separate bowl beat eggs, buttermilk, soda and vanilla.
• set aside.
• In a saucepan bring butter, cocoa and water to a boil.
• Combine 3 mixtures and mix till blended.
• Pour into a greased 9 x 13" pan.
• Bake 25 minutes at 350F degrees.
• ---Icing---.
• Make icing while cake is baking.
• Bring butter, cocoa and milk to a boil.
• pour over sugar.
• mix well.
• add vanilla and nuts.
• Pour over cake while its hot.

DOUBLE FUDGE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 12 by 18 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars on high speed until light, approximately 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla and mix well. Combine the buttermilk, sour cream, and coffee. On low speed, add the flour mixture and the buttermilk mixture alternately in thirds, beginning with the buttermilk mixture and ending with the flour mixture. Mix the batter only until blended.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the center of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool to room temperature before frosting.
• Place the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a bowl set over a pot of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until the chips are completely melted. Off the heat, add the corn syrup and vanilla and allow the chocolate mixture to cool to room temperature. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the chocolate mixture and softened butter on medium speed for a few minutes, until it's thickened.
• Spread the frosting evenly on the cake. Have the children decorate the cake with M&M's.

OLD FASHIONED SOUR CREAM CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE WITH ICING

Steps:

• Preheat Oven to 350°.
• CAKE:.
• Butter a 9x13 cake pan with 1 tbs of butter and set aside.
• Dissolve the coffee powder in the hot water and let cool.
• In a medium bowl, or on a piece of waxed paper, sift together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt.
• In a large bowl, cream together the 8 tbs of butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Add the sour cream and mix well.
• In 3 additions, add the flour mixture alternately with the eggs, beating well after each addition.
• Beat in the melted chocolate, dissolved coffee, and vanilla.
• Spread the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 30-35 minutes.
• Cool on a large wire rack for about 10 minutes.
• Carefully run a knife around the edges of cake, invert onto rack to cool completely.
• ICING:.
• Beat the room temperature butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• On low speed, beat in confectioner's sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time until smooth. Add the cooled chocolate and vanilla, mix well.
• Slice the cake in half horizontally. Transfer the bottom, cut side up to a platter (I gently slide the top layer onto a cutting board until needed).
• Spread about 1/2 of the icing over the cake, it will be a generous amount.
• Top with the top half of the cake, cut side down.
• Spread the remaining icing over the top and sides of cake.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar to garnish if desired.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease the bottom of a deep 9x13-inch baking pan. Spread pecans over.
• Combine cake mix, water, oil. and eggs in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer on low speed until moistened. Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
• Combine frosting mix, milk, and butter in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir until all ingredients are melted. Remove from heat; you do not want to bring this to a boil. Pour over the cake mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Cut into pieces and flip them over into a bowl to serve; there will be a gooey fudge sauce that has accumulated on the bottom of the pan. If necessary, spoon this back onto the cake after it has been flipped into the bowl (this is the best part).

CHOCOLATE TUNNEL FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degree F.
• Set oven rack to second-lowest position.
• Grease and flour a 12-cup bundt pan.
• In a bowl, beat 2 cups sugar with oil and and 2 eggs at high speed of an electric mixer, for 1 minute.
• Combine flour, baking cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• In another small bowl, combine the coffee with the buttermilk.
• Add the flour mixture and the coffee mixture to the oil mixture; beat at medium speed for 3 minutes.
• Stir in nuts and 1 tsp vanilla.
• Pour half of the cake mixture into the prepared bundt pan.
• in another bowl, beat cream cheese at medium speed until fluffy; gradually add in 1/4 cup sugar, and the remaining egg; beat just until blended.
• Stir in remaining 1 tsp vanilla, coconut and chocolate chips.
• Spoon over cake batter in pan, leaving 1/2-inch border around the center and the edge of the pan.
• Top with remaining cake batter.
• Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until cake tests done.
• Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
• Remove from pan; cool completely on wire rack.
• To make glaze: Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat; stir in powdered sugar, and 1 Tbsp water and the 2 tsp vanilla, mix until smooth, adding more water if necessary to achieve desired consistancy for glaze.
• Drizzle over the cooled cake.

BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan, two 9-inch round cake pans, or three 8-inch round cake pans. In large bowl, beat all cake ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan(s).
• Bake rectangle 40 to 45 minutes, rounds 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool rectangle in pan on cooling rack. Cool rounds 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely.
• In 2 1/2-quart saucepan, mix all frosting ingredients except vanilla. Heat to rolling boil, stirring occasionally. Boil 1 minute without stirring. Place saucepan in bowl of ice and water. Beat until frosting is smooth and spreadable; stir in vanilla. Frost rectangle or fill and frost layers with frosting.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• For the fudge icing:
• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, minimum 70 percent cocoa solids
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• For the cake:
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and line the bottom of 2 (8-inch) cake pans.
• In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugars, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In another bowl or wide-necked measuring cup whisk together the eggs, sour cream and vanilla until blended. Using a standing or handheld electric mixer, beat together the melted butter and corn oil until just blended (you'll need another large bowl for this is using the hand mixer; the standing mixer comes with its own bowl), then beat in the water. Add the dry ingredients all at once and mix together on a slow speed. Add the egg mixture, and mix again until everything is blended and then pour into the prepared tins. And actually, you could easily do this manually; I just like my toys and find the stand mixer a comforting presence in itself.
• Bake the cakes for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a cake-tester comes out clean. Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes, and then turn the cakes out on the rack to cool completely.
• For the icing:
• Melt the chocolate in the microwave - 2 to 3 minutes on medium should do it - or in a bowl sitting over a pan of simmering water, and let cool slightly.
• In another bowl beat the butter until it's soft and creamy (again, I use the stand mixer here) and then add the sifted confectioners' sugar and beat again until everything's light and fluffy. I know sifting is a pain, the 1 job in the kitchen I really hate, but you have to do it or the icing will be unsoothingly lumpy. Then gently add the vanilla and chocolate and mix together until everything is glossy and smooth.
• Sandwich the middle of the cake with about a quarter of the icing, and then ice the top and sides, too, spreading and smoothing with a rubber spatula.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE CHERRY CAKE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs and extract. Add pie filling; mix well. Spread into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean., Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine sugar, milk and butter. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved and butter is melted. Remove from the heat; stir in chocolate chips until melted. Pour over warm cake; spread evenly. Cool completely before cutting. Store in the refrigerator.

3-LAYER FUDGE CAKE WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE FILLING

Steps:

• Make cake:
• 1- Preheat oven to 325 °F.
• 2- Butter and flour three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 ½-inch-high sides.
• 3- Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in small bowl to blend.
• 4- Place cocoa in medium bowl; whisk in 1 2/3 cups boiling water. Cool cocoa mixture to room temperature, whisking occasionally.
• 5- Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar, then vanilla. Beat in eggs 1 at a time.
• 6- At low speed, beat in flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with cocoa mixture in 2 additions.
• 7- Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes. Cut around cakes to loosen. Turn out onto racks/plates lined w/ wax paper so they don't stick. Cool completely.
• Make peppermint mousse:
• 1- Combine white chocolate, ¾ cup whipping cream, and sour cream in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heat just until chocolate is melted and smooth.
• 2- Transfer white chocolate mixture to large bowl; cool to barely lukewarm, whisking occasionally, about 20 minutes.
• 3- Mix in candies.
• 4- Beat remaining 1 cup cream in medium bowl to soft peaks. Fold cream into barely lukewarm white chocolate mixture in 4 additions.
• 5- Chill mousse until beginning to set, about 2 hours.
• 6- Place 1 cake layer on cardboard round or cake tray. Spread half of mousse over top of cake. Top with second cake layer, remaining mousse, and third cake layer. Chill assembled cake until mousse is cold & set, about 3 hours (can be made a day ahead).
• Make ganache:
• 1- Bring cream to simmer in heavy large saucepan.
• 2- Remove from heat. Add semisweet chocolate; whisk until melted & smooth.
• 3- Cool ganache until thick but still pourable, about 45 minutes.
• 4- Place cake on rack or baking sheet. Pour ganache over cake, spreading with metal spatula to cover sides evenly.
• 5- Chill cake till ganache sets, at least 30 minutes & up to 1 day.

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Make the devil's food cake: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Butter the bottom and sides o f a 17 1/2 by 11 1/2-inch jelly roll pan and line the bottom with baking parchment or waxed paper. Lightly dust the sides of the pan with flour and tap out the excess.
• In the 4 1/2-quart bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer, place the cake flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and baking powder. Using the paddle attachment, blend the dry ingredients on low speed, until combined.
• Add the butter, one tablespoon at a time and continue to mix until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
• At medium speed, beat in the water, scraping down the side of the bowl as necessary. Continue to beat the batter at medium speed for 2 minutes.
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time, scralling down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula after each addition.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and, using an offset metal cake spatula, smooth it into an even layer.
• Bake the cake for 18 to 22 minutes, until the cake springs back when gently touched in the center.
• Run the tip of a knife around the edges of the pan. Invert the cake on to a wire rack. Carefully peel off the paper and cool the cake completely.
• Make the chocolate espresso whipped garlache:
• In a small cup, stir the espresso powder into the hot water until dissolved; set aside
• Place the chocolate in a medium bowl: set aside.
• In a small, heavy saucepan, combine the heavy cream and espresso mixture. Bring to a gentle boil.
• Remove from heat and pour the mixture over the chocolate. Allow the mixt ure to stand for 1 minute to melt the chocolate. Gently whisk until smooth.
• Cover the bowl and refrigerate the ganache for 2 hours, until chilled and slightly thickened.
• Using a hand-held electric mixer, beat the ganache just until lightened in color, about 30 seconds. Do not overbeat the ganache or it will become grainy.
• Assemble the cakes: Using eight 3-inch (2 inches in height) metal ring molds, cut out 8 rounds of the devil's food cake. Place the molds on a baking sheet and place a cake round in the bottom of each mold.
• Fill a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip with the whipped ganache. Pipe the ganache on top of each round, filling each mold to the top.
• With a small, offset metal spatula, scrape the top of each mold to the level the ganache. Place the sheet of molds in the freezer for 2 hours.
• Make the glaze: Place the chocolate in a medium bowl.
• In a small saucepan, bring the cream and corn syrup to a gentle boil.
• Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let the mixture stand for 1 minute to melt the chocolate. Gently whisk until smooth.
• Cover the surface of the glaze with plastic wrap and let it stand at room temperature until ready to glaze the cakes.
• Make the chocolate espresso fudge sauce: In a medium saucepan, stir together the cocoa, espresso powder and sugar.
• Slowly whisk in the milk and cream.
• Stir in the corn syrup. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• Raise the heat to medium-high and while continuing to stir, bring the mixture to a boil.
• Remove the pan from the heat and add the chocolate. Let the mixture stand for 30 seconds to melt the chocolate. Whisk until smooth.
• Stir in the butter and vanilla.
• Unmold and glaze the cakes: Remove the molds from the freezer.
• Gently heat the side of each mold using a portable hair dryer or a hot, damp towel. Carefully slide off each mold.
• Place the cakes on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 15 minutes.
• Remove the plastic wrap from the glaze and gently whisk until smooth.
• Remove the desserts from the freezer and pour the glaze over each cake to coat it completely.
• Place a spoonful of chocolate espresso fudge sauce on a dessert plate. Place a cake on top of the sauce; garnish with a candied violet, if desired.
• Repeat with the remaining cakes.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Grease a 13x9-in. baking pan; line with parchment. Grease the paper; set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, cream of tartar, baking soda, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with water and milk, beating well after each addition., Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350° for 22-27 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack. Discard parchment. Cool cake completely., For frosting, in a large bowl, beat the butter, confectioners' sugar and cocoa until smooth. Beat in enough milk to achieve spreading consistency. Transfer cake to a serving platter. Spread with chocolate frosting; decorate with vanilla frosting.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT FUDGE CANDY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 8-inch square cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper. Butter the parchment and dust with flour, tapping out excess.
• Whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. Whisk the melted butter, buttermilk, egg, vanilla and 1/2 cup water together in another bowl until smooth. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, whisking until just combined. Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans, smoothing the tops. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through cooking, until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
• Let the cakes cool in the pans for 15 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. Discard the parchment paper and flip the cakes right side up again. Let the cakes cool completely.
• Make the coconut filling: Pulse the coconut in a food processor until finely chopped and transfer to a large bowl. Combine the gelatin with 2 tablespoons cold water in a small microwaveable bowl and let stand for 5 minutes to soften. Heat the gelatin in the microwave until it melts completely, about 10 seconds, stirring to dissolve. Add the gelatin mixture, cream cheese, sour cream, coconut milk, sugar, vanilla and coconut extracts and salt to a food processor and process until smooth, at least 1 minute. Scrape the mixture into the bowl containing the chopped coconut and mix until evenly combined. Let the mixture sit until it is just thick enough to spread, about 10 minutes. (Do not let the filling firm up too much.)
• Place one cake on a cake stand and pile the coconut filling in the center, spreading it in a thick layer almost to the edge. Top with the remaining cake, aligning the layers directly on top of each other so the cake does not lean. Refrigerate the assembled cake for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the chocolate ganache: Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan then remove from the heat. Add the chocolate, shaking the pan gently to submerge it. Allow the pan to stand, off the heat, for 3 minutes to melt the chocolate. Whisk the ganache until smooth, then refrigerate until it is just thick enough to spread (like mayonnaise), about 15 minutes. (Do not let the ganache harden too much.)
• Stir the ganache again and scoop it on top of the cake, spreading it over the top and sides. Make a swirl pattern on the top with a spatula to resemble a coconut candy. Refrigerate the cake until the ganache is set, at least 1 hour or overnight.

BEST EVER RICH CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Grease and flour 3 9-inch cake pans.
• In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter until smooth.
• Gradually pour in the brown sugar, then eggs.
• Beat with mixer until light and fluffy, approx 5 minutes.
• On low speed, beat in the vanilla extract, melted chocolate, baking soda and salt.
• Add flour alternately with sour cream, beating at low speed until smooth.
• Pour in boiling hot water and stir until blended.
• Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake about 25 minutes or until done.
• Remove from oven, let cakes cool about 10-15 minutes, then place on wire racks.

EASY CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Bake a box chocolate cake as directed. While hot from the oven, poke holes over entire cake with a fork. While the cake is cooking prepare the fudge sauce.
• For the fudge sauce: In a saucepan, combine butter, sugar, cocoa and cream. Stir over medium heat until a full boil starts. Cook at a full boil for 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Pour while hot over warm cake. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts. Serve alone or with ice-cream.

WHITE CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE AND CHOCOLATE FUDGE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• For chocolate stars:
• Line baking sheet with foil. Stir chocolate and shortening in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted and smooth. Pour onto prepared baking sheet, tilting pan to spread chocolate mixture to irregular 14x9-inch rectangle. Refrigerate until just firm, about 12 minutes. Spray assorted star-shaped cookie cutters with nonstick spray. Cut out stars. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Using small offset spatula, carefully transfer stars 1 at a time to another foil-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until ready to use. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Line bottoms with parchment paper; butter parchment. Stir unsweetened chocolate in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Cool slightly. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until well blended. Beat in lukewarm melted unsweetened chocolate and vanilla. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, blending well after each addition. Mix in cocoa powder mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk in 2 additions.
• Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 10 minutes. Run knife around edge of each pan to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out onto racks and cool completely. Peel off parchment.
• For filling and frosting:
• Bring 1 cup cream and butter to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until butter melts. Remove from heat. Add white chocolate and stir until smooth. Whisk in vanilla. Pour 1 1/2 cups white chocolate filling into small bowl; cover and freeze until cold, about 2 hours.
• Let remaining white chocolate mixture in saucepan stand at room temperature until lukewarm, about 20 minutes.
• Using electric mixer, beat remaining 2 cups cream and almond extract in large bowl until peaks form. Working in 3 batches, fold in lukewarm white chocolate mixture. Refrigerate whipped cream frosting just until medium peaks hold, folding occasionally, about 3 hours.
• Brush 2 tablespoons amaretto over top of each cake layer. Place 1 layer on platter. Spread chilled 1 1/2 cups white chocolate filling over. Top with second cake layer. Spread whipped cream frosting over top and sides of cake. Chill until cold and set, about 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
• Arrange chocolate stars decoratively atop cake and serve.

NEW ORLEANS DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE PRALINE-FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Cake:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine butter, cocoa and water in a saucepan.
• Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat until the mixture is smooth and butter has melted; remove from heat and cool.
• Combine the buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla; beat on medium speed with a mixer until smooth.
• Combine the butter mixture and buttermilk mixture; beat until well blended.
• Combine the sugar, flour and salt in a bowl; mix well.
• Gradually add the flour mixture to the buttermilk mixture; beat until blended.
• The batter should be thin.
• Spray three 8" round cake pans with cooking spray and line them with wax paper.
• Pour the batter evenly into the pans and bake at 350 degrees for 22-24 minutes or until cake tests for doneness.
• Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely.
• To assemble the cake:.
• Spread 1/2 c ganache between the cake layers; spread the remainder on the sides of the cake and chill for 30 minutes.
• Slowly pour the frosting over the center of the cake.
• Spread it to the edges of the cake, allowing some frosting to run down the sides.
• Chocolate Ganache:.
• Microwave the chocolate and cream in a glass bowl for 2-3 minutes, or until the chocolate is melted; whisk until smooth.
• Gradually add the butter, whisking until smooth and melted.
• Cool, whisking often, until spreading consistency, about 15-20 minutes.
• Praline Frosting:.
• Combine the butter, brown sugar and whipping cream in a 2 quart saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring often.
• Boil 1 min; remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla.
• Add the pecans and stir gently for 2-5 minutes, or until the frosting begins to cool and thicken slightly.
• Pour immediately over the cake.