Best Dark Chocolate Layer Cake Recipes

DARK CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the sugar, buttermilk, coffee, eggs, oil, chocolate and vanilla until well blended. In another large bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into buttermilk mixture until blended., Pour into three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 30-35 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, combine the cream, sugar and corn syrup in a small saucepan. Bring to a full boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; stir in chocolate and butter until melted. , Transfer to a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate until desired consistency, stirring occasionally. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Store in the refrigerator.

DARK CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
• Sift cake flour, sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt together in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add 1 stick butter and oil and beat on slow speed for 1 to 2 minutes. Increase speed to high for 4 minutes. Turn off mixer and scrape sides of the bowl. Add 1 cup milk, eggs, applesauce, and chocolate extract and beat on medium speed until well combined into a thick batter. Pour evenly into the prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick comes out clean and the center springs back to a light touch, 25 to 35 minutes. Allow to cool completely, about 30 minutes. Slice each cake in half horizontally to create 4 layers.
• Combine semi-sweet chocolate chips and bittersweet chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler set over hot but not boiling water. Stir until chocolate is melted and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit.
• Cream 2 sticks butter in the bowl of the stand mixer. Mix on low speed and add confectioners' sugar, 8 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon chocolate extract, and 1 teaspoon cocoa. Scrape the bowl and add melted chocolate chips. Mix frosting until fluffy and light.
• Pour raspberry preserves in a microwave-safe bowl and warm in the microwave oven for 1 minute; stir well.
• Place the first cake layer on a serving plate and spread 1/2 the jar of preserves just to the edge. Lay the second layer on top and spread about 1 cup of frosting just to the edge. Lay the third layer down and spread remaining preserves just to the edge. Lay the final layer down and frost the entire cake with a thin crumb-coating of frosting, reserving remaining frosting. Refrigerate cake for 30 minutes.
• Remove cake from refrigerator and decorate as desired with remaining frosting.

TALL, DARK AND STOUT CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease bottoms only of three 9- or 8-inch round cake pans. Make cake batter as directed on box, using cake mix, beer, the oil and eggs. Pour about 1 1/2 cups batter into each pan.
• Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans. Cool completely.
• Meanwhile, for frosting, place chocolate in medium mixing bowl. In 2-quart saucepan, heat whipping cream and butter to just boiling over medium heat. Pour cream mixture over chocolate; stir with whisk until melted and smooth. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour; stir. Refrigerate about 1 to 1 1/2 hours more or until spreading consistency.
• Place 1 cake layer on serving plate. Frost top of layer with 1 cup of the frosting. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons caramel topping. Top with another cake layer, 1 cup of the frosting and remaining 3 tablespoons caramel topping. Top with remaining cake layer and frosting. Garnish with chunks of chocolate covered caramels with sea salt, if desired.

KITTENCAL'S BEST DEEP DARK CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line bottoms of two buttered 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar, until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes).
• Add in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Beat in vanilla and coffee granules.
• Sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
• Add the flour mixture into the creamed mixture, alternating with the buttermilk, in three additions, scraping down the sides of bowl each time.
• Divide batter between prepared pans.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until cake tests done.
• Turn onto a rack and remove paper.
• Cool and frost.
• FOR FROSTING: Beat butter until creamy.
• Blend in cream and vanilla; beat until very smooth.
• Add the cocoa and icing sugar.
• Beat on high for 45 seconds.

DARK CHOCOLATE WALNUT LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• FOR CAKE:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Line with waxed paper. Stir chocolate in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted. Cool.
• Sift flour and baking soda into small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until creamy. Add both sugars and beat until fluffy. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in vanilla, then melted chocolate. Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk in 2 additions each, beating just until blended after each addition. Mix in walnuts.
• Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 20 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks.
• FOR ICING:
• Stir chocolate in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted. Remove from over water. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until smooth. Beat in 2 tablespoons milk. Beat in chocolate. Thin with milk to spreading consistency.
• Cut around pan sides. Turn out cakes; peel off paper. Place 1 cake layer flat side down on platter. Spread 1 cup icing over. Top with second cake layer, flat side up. Spread remaining icing over cake. Press nuts onto sides of cake. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and store at room temperature.)

CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE WITH DARK CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease two 8-inch round cake pans, line with cutout parchment paper, grease again, and dust with a little cocoa powder.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whisk together the flour mix, cocoa powder, xanthan gum, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• Add the egg replacer, rice milk, canola oil, vanilla, and warm water and beat on medium-low speed until smooth, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
• Divide the batter evenly between the two pans.
• Bake in the center of the oven for about 45 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through. Bake until the cake is pulling away slightly from the sides of the pans and a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Let cool in the pans on a cooling rack for 30 minutes. Cover the cake pan with a large plate, flip, peel off the parchment paper, and flip the cake back onto the rack, right side up, to cool completely. Repeat with the other cake.
• Once the cakes have cooled completely, you may use a serrated knife to trim the tops to make them level. Frost with Dark Chocolate Frosting (or Vanilla Frosting, page 93, or Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, page 91). Once the frosting sets, store covered.
• Dark Chocolate Frosting
• Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt in the microwave, stopping to stir every 30 seconds. It will take about 2 minutes to melt them. Stir until smooth, about 1 minute. Let cool to room temperature.
• Combine the cocoa powder and boiling water in a small bowl, stirring until smooth and the cocoa has dissolved completely.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the shortening, confectioners' sugar, salt, and rice milk, beating on medium speed for about 3 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
• Add the melted chocolate and beat on low speed for 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the cocoa mixture, and beat for about 1 more minute, or until combined.

3-LAYER DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE

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.

DARK CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER LAYER CAKE - LOW CARB AND GLUTEN-FREE

Steps:

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DARK CHOCOLATE BROWNIE OREO LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• **Brownie Layer:.
• Microwave butter and bittersweet chocolate in a 2-qt glass bowl on high for 1 1/2 minutes or until chocolate is melted, stirring mixture. Whisk 2 cups sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract.
• Toss together 1 tablespoon flour, walnuts (if desired), and chocolate chips.
• Stir remaining flour and salt into sugar mixture. Add walnut and chocolate chip mixture. Spread batter into a lightly greased 13x9x2-inch pan.
• Bake at 350°F for 30 to 40 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• **Oreo cookie layer:.
• Put all Oreo cookies (except 10 cookies) in blender for crumbs or crush in a ziploc bag if you prefer crumbles.
• Drizzle Hershey syrup over brownies and spread with spoon. Add Oreo cookie crumbs/crumbles. Then, drizzle more Hershey syrup over the Oreo cookie crumbs/crumbs and spread around with spoon.
• **Pudding Layer:.
• Pour milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mixes. Beat with wire whisk for 2 minutes. Let stand 2 minutes. Spread over brownies.
• **Topping:.
• Add Cool Whip on top of pudding layer and top with the 10 extra cookies (whole or crumbled) and drizzle Hershey syrup for decoration (if desired).

TALL, DARK AND STOUT CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease bottoms only of three 9- or 8-inch round cake pans. Make cake batter as directed on box, using cake mix, beer, the oil and eggs. Pour about 1 1/2 cups batter into each pan.
• Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans. Cool completely.
• Meanwhile, for frosting, place chocolate in medium mixing bowl. In 2-quart saucepan, heat whipping cream and butter to just boiling over medium heat. Pour cream mixture over chocolate; stir with whisk until melted and smooth. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour; stir. Refrigerate about 1 to 1 1/2 hours more or until spreading consistency.
• Place 1 cake layer on serving plate. Frost top of layer with 1 cup of the frosting. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons caramel topping. Top with another cake layer, 1 cup of the frosting and remaining 3 tablespoons caramel topping. Top with remaining cake layer and frosting. Garnish with chunks of chocolate covered caramels with sea salt, if desired.

DARK CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT LAYER CAKE WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT FROSTING

Steps:

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DARK & MILK CHOCOLATE BROWNIE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray two 8 or 9-inch cake pans with Pam. Mix up each brownie mix separately according to directions on boxes and pour into pans.
• 2. Bake about 25 to 30 minutes checking center of brownies to make sure they are done in the center. Remove from oven. Run a knife around side of the cake pan and then let cool 10 minutes. Remove brownies from pan and let cool completely.
• 3. Frosting: Melt the butter (microwave or stove top) and stir in the cocoa. Alternately add the powdered sugar and the milk, beating to a spreading consistency. Add more milk if needed. Stir vanilla extract.
• 4. Frost brownie layers like a regular layer cake all over.
• 5. Then pat mini chips to the side of the cake with your hands. Enjoy with whipped cream or alone.