Monday, August 1, 2011

layer after layer after layer

I really really really love cake. 
I don't make it that often, unless we have a special cake-like occasion.

But this weekend, occasion or not, I just. wanted. cake.

So why not make it with layer after layer of deliciousness!

I have never made a cake larger than two layers--and I had so much fun dreaming this up and putting it together. It looks a little sloppy (it was), call it "rustic" if you will, 
but I think it adds to the edible-ness.....right?
layer after layer

Chocolate Layer Cake with Whipped Vanilla Cream, Raspberries, and Chocolate Buttercream
yes....it's a lot
(this is the same chocolate cake recipe that i've posted a few other times on the blog--it always turns out and I have it memorized so it's easy for me to put together:)

Chocolate Cake
2 ounces semisweet chocolate
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup boiling water
6 TBS butter, melted
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Line bottom of two 8" pans with a round of parchment paper. Butter paper, and sides of pan.
(I don't have 4 pans, so I did two 8" pans, twice for my four layers)

Finely chop chocolate and in a bowl combine with boiling water and cocoa powder. Let mixture stand, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.

In a bowl add flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl with an electric mixer beat butter and sugar until combined. Add eggs (adding one at a time) until thickened slightly and light colored (about 3 minutes). Slowly add buttermilk, vanilla, and melted chocolate mixture, beating until combined well. Add flour mixture and beat on medium speed until just combined.

Spoon batter into pans, and bake two at a time until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 12-15 minutes. 

Repeat with two more cakes.
(batter will divide into about 1 1/4c for each of four pans)

Cool cakes completely before frosting.

Whipped Vanilla Cream
2 cups whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Whip cream on high speed for a few minutes until soft peaks start to form. Add powder sugar and vanilla and whip a little bit longer until you have reached a light and fluffy, whip cream consistency.

Chocolate Buttercream
8 TBS butter
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 cups powdered sugar
A few TBS milk

Beat butter, cocoa, and powdered sugar, and add milk a little at a time until you reach a consistency you like.

Spread first layer of cake with whipped cream, and add a few small handfuls of fresh raspberries over the whipped cream. Repeat with remaining layers. Spread the chocolate buttercream on the top layer and top with more fresh raspberries.

Take a picture, because that is one big cake you just made.


***for the month of August I'll be participating in the August Break, posting a photo each day instead of a full blog post. I can't keep my mouth shut for too long, so I'll share a recipe here and there I'm sure***

36 comments:

Lori Folkman said...

Now that's just mean. How many miles do I have to jog to work that off?

sheena said...

400.

MellyB said...

Whoa. Seeing that at ten pm makes going to bed seem kind of lame.

I want cake. Who delivers cake after 10? Wait, who delivers cake ever?

And I don't even have sugar. I hate you and your beautiful cake.

kylee said...

that cake looks heavenly. immediately added it to my list of must try recipes.

Rhianne said...

I love love love cake too and you can't go wrong with chocolate and raspberries, yum!

Anonymous said...

It looks beautiful!! whenever I'm worried about something looking "rustic" or messy, my my dad reminds me that those things always taste the best! :)

Katie said...

Oh. my. god. this may or may not be the single most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Hands down.

Hannah Nicole said...

Looks absolutely delicious. The rusti feel adds a simple charm to the cake. So beautiful.

Anna said...

Wow. Now I want cake. This cake is so pretty and I love the a little sloppy, lovingly homemade look of it :o)

Laney Butler said...

you kill me with your cakes! this looks so yummy!!

Anna said...

gorgeous photo, and the cake looks delicious! "rustic" is definitely the way to go in my kitchen, haha.

Anonymous said...

i have been craaaaving homecake practically all summer, but the heat means i'm not allowed to turn on the over :( this cake does cruel things to my cravings, i'm almost tempted to set it as my desktop wallpaper ;D looks awwwe-some.

Unknown said...

It's totally rustic, which makes it tastes even BETTER, that's pretty much a fact ;) Gorgeous cake!

Velvet said...

Wow! It looks amazingly appetizing. I'd definitely have a bite (or two...)


The apple of my eye.

The Rowley's said...

I have been looking all over for a cake platter and cant find one anywhere so if you ever find one on your thrift store hunts... let me know.

Cake looks amazing... Chad doesnt like chocolate cake (its a sin, I know) so I rarely make it.

Amy said...

I love cake, I love looking at it, thinking about it, making it, sometimes eating it.
Mostly just making it though.
And who needs an excuse for cake really?

Chelsea said...

Today is my birthday and this is the perfect cake. Even though it's a jillion degrees out I'm sure turning on the oven will be worth it!
pretty pretty and thanks!

gram said...

Sheena,, the next gathering at mom's ..you'll make this... right??...very pretty!

Maria said...

looks deadly and delicious!

kyleen said...

Chocolate + raspberries + cream = Cake Heaven. Looks. So. Good.

Anonymous said...

looks delicious, can't wait to make it!

Emma said...

oh. my. goodness. This is the most gorgeous cake I have ever laid eyes on! So much icingggggg!!!!!!! :) totally making this! :)

madhu said...

I feel all the excitement! Beautifully made! LOVE rustic!

D-dawg said...

Sheena- I made your cake for my birthday! We aren't eating it until tonight and I'm wondering if I should refrigerate it since it has the whip cream? Will that dry it out? Thanks for the delish recipe! Will you message me when you get a chance?
theharlowfamily @ gmail.com

Dianne Sapra said...

Love the photo, its gorgeous! The cake look fantastic...yummm!

SHARM said...

Hi I would like to know if the mixture is for 1 batch or for both batches. In other words for all the 4 cakes. I cannot wait to make this...

Bethany said...

Hey girl, so I totally used this chocolate cake recipe for my boy's birthday last weekend, and um, THANK YOU. It was amazingly delicious.

Teresa said...

I made this for my daughter's birthday last week and it was delicious. I didn't get to the chocolate buttercream because I ran out of cocoa but it was great with just the whipped cream. I'm making it again for her party this weekend.

bconnelly said...

I made this cake for my father's birthday and it turned out incredible. So delicious, beautiful, and not all that difficult to make.

SpottsCrafts said...

Hi, I made your cake today - because it just looks like forever YUMMY!!! Anyway, I was wondering how thick is the batter supposed to be? Mine was like a really thick soup and I used a cup measure to pour it into 4 tins (I have 4! two with removable bases and two plain). I also had to bake the cakes for an extra 5 minutes, making it 20 minutes all up. They have turned out from the tins OK, and I'm still waiting for them to cool down. Any help gratefully received!! :)

Unknown said...

oh my god it's th BEST cake i've EVER made!!! SO delicious... <3 <3 <3

Emily said...

sheena, thank you so much for this wonderful chocolate cake recipe. I made it for my mother's birthday, and my aunt loved it so much, she requested that i make it for her own birthday that was the following week!!!! it is definitely the best cake i've ever made. will be trying more of your cake recipes, thank you!

Unknown said...

Know I'm a little late, but... this looks amazing! The flavour combinations sound divine. x

alyssa said...

I made this for my dad's birthday and it was amazing!!! Everyone loved it! Thanks so much for posting this masterpiece of food :)

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