Chocolate Blackout Cake
adapted from ATK
serves 10 to 12
Pudding:
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
2 cups half & half
1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Cake:
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
(I used cake flour)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
(I used extra dark cocoa powder)
1 cup brewed coffee
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
FOR THE PUDDING
1. Cook the granulated sugar,, chocolate, half & half, milk, cornstarch and salt in a large saucepan over medium heat, whisking occassionally, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture begins to buble, 2 to 4 minutes. Stir in the vanilla. Transfer the pudding to a large bowl and refrigerate, with plastic wrap pressed flush against to surface, until cold and set, at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.
1. Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour two 8″inch cake pans. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the cocoa and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Off the heat, whisk in the coffee, buttermilk, and sugars until dissolved. Whisk in the flour mixture. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and smooth with a spatula.
2. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers come out clean, 30 to 35 mintes, rotating the cake pans halfway through baking. Cool the cakes in the pans for 15 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack. Cool the cakes to room temperature before frosting, at least 1 hour.
1. Using a large serrated knife, slice each cake into 2 even layers. Crumble 1 cake layer into medium crumbs and set aside. Place 1 cake layer on a cake plate or cardboard round. Spread 1 cup of the pudding over the cake layer and top with another layer. Repeat with 1 cup more pudding and the last cake layer. Spread the remaining pudding evenly over the top and sides of the cake. Sprinkle the cake crumbs evenly over the top and sides of the cake, pressing lightly to adhere the crumbs. Slice and serve.
WARNING
This cake is extremely dense, creamy and rich. Be sure to have coffee or a glass of cold milk on hand!
Holy cow. This looks absolutely wonderful. A PMS cure for sure 🙂
Mmmm…I love chocolate cake. At first I thought it had crumbled cookies like Oreos all over it. That would be good too. =)
Oh my word, this looks absolutely sinful!! I would love a chunk of that right about now (even though it’s 9:00 in the morning).
This looks SO BAD.
And by “so bad” I mean – sinful, not good for you, deliciously evil.
That cake would certainly be the way to my heart!
Mmmmm Joelen, that looks delicious!
Oh My ~ I had this cake for my BDay over Easter but mine was bakery bought. I am sure this one is MUCH better….going to make this soon.
Picture is beautiful!!
~Belinda
SECURITY CENTER: See Please Here
hey where are the eggs? …………………..
maybe try to add everything especially if you’re attempting to make a blog.
I made this cake over the weekend and it was probably the best cake I've ever made! 🙂 Yours looks terrific too!