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Holy moly geez o pete, if you’re a chocolate lover this cake is definitely for you.  Even if you’re not a chocolate lover THIS CAKE IS FOR YOU.  I know this may sound crazy, but I am really not a fan of chocolate but let me tell you what, this is one cake that I can bury my face in and eat til its gone.  I actually got this recipe from Bailey’s Prime Plus for the short time I was a pastry chef there.  The cake is so moist and decadent, every bite is a mouthful of heaven.  I definitely think the secret is the coffee, it really brings out the richness of the cocoa and paired with the silky chocolate mousse nestled in between the cake layers…honestly, what could be better?  I also added a ganache topping and spiked it with brandy because I am firm believer that liqours and dessert should always go together, it just kicks it up a notch.  :)

1

Ingredients for Chocolate Cake:

  • 1 3/4 cup All-Purpose flour
  • 2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 c cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 1 cup coffee

Preheat the oven to 350F.

For the chocolate cake, mix all of the dry ingredients together so they are evenly distributed.  Add the wet ingredients one at a time as listed, until full incorporated.  This ensures the batter comes out nice and smooth. Take a springfoam pan like the one pictured below or a standard 9-inch round pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.  Pour the batter about 3/4 of the way, leaving room for the cake to rise when baking.  Place in the oven for 35 minutes, you can check the doneness by inserting a toothpick in the middle, if it comes out clean it is ready.  Allow to cool and place in the freezer.  (This makes the cake easier to cut)

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Ingredients for Chocolate Mousse:

  • 12 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoon sugar
  • 4 large egg whites (room temperature)
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream (cold)
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the chocolate mousse, place the chocolate chips and butter in a double boiler as pictured below.  Simply heat water in a large pot at medium heat and place a mixing bowl over it.  This helps you melt the chocolate and butter without burning it.  Be cautious of letting the water boil, it could potentially get inside the bowl with the chocolate and butter and that is a BIG no-no. Once melted and mixed thoroughly, set aside and cool to room temperature.

3

Meanwhile, whip the egg whites until they are firm and hold peaks and add the sugar.  Be careful not to over whip the egg whites, they should be shiny and smooth, not chunky.  Also make sure the bowl you are whipping your egg whites in is dry and contains no water or any liquid — this ensures that your whites will form peaks or else you’ll be whipping until your arm falls off with no results.

Mix the melted chocolate with your egg whites in a folding motion — you do not want to over mix or you will flatten your egg whites and that will make your mousse “goopy”. Whip the cream and when partially stiff add the vanilla.  Once it is thick fold it into chocolate egg white mixture.  Set aside.

2

Ingredients for Chocolate Ganache:

  • 8 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoon brandy

For the Chocolate Ganace, heat the cream and butter in medium sauce pan at medium heat.  Add the brandy once the cream begins to bubble and pour over chocolate chips.  Mix until all ingredients are incorporated.

Food Blog 048

Take the cake out from the freezer.  If you are using a spring foam pan fill it with the chocolate mousse to the top and place it back into the freezer.

If you are using the standard 9 inch pan flip it upside down onto a flat surface with parchment paper.  If you have a torch, torch the sides and bottom of the pan, this will release the cake from the pan.  If you do not own a torch, take a paring knife along the edges of the pan and firmly tap the pan upside down, the cake should pop out.    Then cut the cake in half horizontally — the easiest way to do this is to trace where you want to cut first around the edges of the cake and then cut into it the rest of the way.  I use to just cut it without tracing and ended up with uneven, unhappy cake pieces.

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Another reason why you place the cakes in the freezer is so that the ganache frosting comes out nice and shiny.  If the cake is warm, the icing comes out dull.  Place one of the cake halves onto a wire rack and spread the top with chocolate mousse and place the other half on top. It is important that the cake is on a wire rack so the ganache can drip through.   Carefully pour the ganache ontop of the cake, starting from the center and allowing it to drip down the sides.

4

You can garnish the cake however you like, I chose to use raspberry and some left over cream cheese frosting from the cupcakes I made last weekend.  Please excuse my poor decorative icing skills hahaha :) !

21 Comments

  1. Jenn @ Cook or Be Eaten says: 5 Nov ’09 • 17:07:07

    That cake looks unreal delicious … next time I’m craving chocolate, this is what I’ll be trying …

    Reply

    • Joy Zhang says: 5 Nov ’09 • 18:55:18

      Thanks Jenn!! It is definitely a chocolate lover’s dream haha

  2. Gera @ SweetsFoods says: 5 Nov ’09 • 17:55:49

    Is this heaven? The first statement is “this cake is for you” no doubt about it!!! A perfect chocolate cake for a familiar-birthday that is coming :)
    Sending to twitter….

    Cheers!

    Gera

    Reply

    • Joy Zhang says: 5 Nov ’09 • 18:50:07

      Thanks Gera! You are so kind :)

  3. zerrin says: 5 Nov ’09 • 18:05:14

    This looks divine! It’s so dangerous to look at such gorgeous pictures at this late hour of night. Drool!

    Reply

    • Joy Zhang says: 5 Nov ’09 • 18:50:56

      Thank you for your kind words zerrin! Hee hee I couldn’t help myself this morning and ate two slices :(

  4. betty says: 5 Nov ’09 • 19:05:07

    definitely bookmarking this!
    i just bought a springform pan :)

    and tried making a fudge ckae with it. failed. i think its my oven so i might need to keep it in the oven for abit longer

    Reply

    • Joy Zhang says: 6 Nov ’09 • 10:15:23

      Thanks betty! Yeah…I’ve definitely done that before -_- I can’t wait to trade recipes with you! Pleasure to meet you :)

  5. anncoo says: 5 Nov ’09 • 20:17:49

    Hi Joy,

    This looks fabulous and your pics are delectable.

    Reply

    • Joy Zhang says: 5 Nov ’09 • 23:59:53

      Thanks anncoo! :)

  6. Olive says: 5 Nov ’09 • 21:37:36

    now, it’s my turn to lick my screen hahaha :) that is yummy, I know for sure, I have been using the same recipe for my chocolate cakes without the brandy in the ganache though :)

    Reply

    • Joy Zhang says: 9 Nov ’09 • 11:07:51

      Thanks Olive :)

  7. MaryMoh says: 6 Nov ’09 • 06:05:49

    wow…that looks such a sexy, romantic cake. Valentine’s Day is very near…would be so suitable :) Love all the decoration…well done!

    Reply

    • Joy Zhang says: 9 Nov ’09 • 11:08:07

      Thanks MaryMoh :) !!

  8. Jeanne says: 6 Nov ’09 • 10:26:52

    This looks amazing! Next time I make a chocolate cake, this will be it! I love the raspberries on top.

    Reply

    • Joy Zhang says: 9 Nov ’09 • 11:08:28

      Thanks Jeanne, I love raspberries with chocolate :) !

  9. Haley Brooke says: 15 Jan ’10 • 12:11:10

    Gorgeous Pictures! Chocolate is my absolute FAVORITE food.. I will be sure to make this cake :) Thank you!

    Reply

    • Joy Zhang says: 18 Jan ’10 • 10:16:16

      Thanks Haley!!! If you love chocolate this cake will definitely give you the fix you need hee hee hee

  10. Happy Birthday to Mary Moh « says: 15 Feb ’10 • 11:33:19

    [...] the chocolate cake, I used the same recipe from a previous post which you can find here.  When making layer cakes like this, it is easiest when you either freeze or refrigerate your cake [...]

    Reply

  11. Hope says: 14 Jun ’10 • 22:17:20

    Okay, pardon this question from a newbie; but, is the 1 cup of coffee the liquid coffee or ground coffee beans?

    Reply

  12. Stephen says: 16 Sep ’11 • 16:49:09

    First off, I want to thank you for this recipe. I’m about to make this for my father-in-law’s birthday tonight.

    I wanted to ask, do you recommend that this cake be refrigerated after making because of the ganache and moose or will it stand on the counter on it’s own. Thanks again.

    Reply

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