Description
A rich, ultra-chocolatey hybrid between brownies and cake, with dense fudgy layers and a silky chocolate ganache frosting. This showstopper dessert delivers intense chocolate flavor with a moist, slightly chewy texture that chocolate lovers will adore.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted (Make sure it’s at room temperature for easy mixing.)
- 2 cups granulated sugar (For that touch of sweetness we all crave!)
- 4 large eggs (Fresh eggs will yield the best results.)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (Use pure vanilla extract for maximum flavor.)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (Sifted to avoid lumps.)
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (The richer, the better; I like Ghirardelli.)
- 1/2 tsp salt (Just a pinch to balance the sweetness.)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder (Will help give the cake a nice rise.)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (Go for high-quality brands like Guittard or Nestlé.)
- Optional: Powdered sugar or chocolate ganache for topping (For that extra oomph!)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line three 8-inch cake pans.
- Make batter: Melt butter and chocolate together. Whisk in sugars, then eggs one at a time. Add vanilla.
- Sift in flour, cocoa, salt, and espresso powder. Fold gently until just combined.
- Divide batter evenly among pans. Bake 25-28 minutes until set but still fudgy.
- Cool in pans 10 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
- Make ganache: Heat cream until steaming. Pour over chopped chocolate and butter. Let sit 5 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Cool until spreadable.
- Assemble: Stack layers with ganache between each. Frost outside with remaining ganache.
- Decorate with chocolate shavings and berries. Chill 1 hour before slicing.
Notes
- For neat slices: Use hot knife wiped clean between cuts
- Make ahead: Cake layers freeze well for 1 month
- Gluten-free: Substitute 1:1 GF flour blend
- Simpler version: Bake in 9×13 pan as sheet cake
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 28 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 58g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 25g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 72g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 175mg