Choose Your Own Adventure Chocolate Cake
In this course, you’ll learn how to master my favorite chocolate cake—layered with light chocolate frosting and a decadent salted ganache—in just five simple steps. From start to finish, the first cake may take up to three hours, but before long, you’ll be creating show-stopping cakes in two hours or less. Easy to follow, fun to bake, and absolutely irresistible to eat.
Now with new bonus recipes for dark sweet cherry filling and chocolate cookie crumbs.
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ASSEMBLE THE CAKE
This lesson demonstrates how to properly stack and compact the layers to ensure an end result that doesn’t crumble apart upon serving. Probably the most important lesson of them all.
This lesson demonstrates how to properly stack and compact the layers to ensure an end result that doesn’t crumble apart upon serving. Probably the most important lesson of them all.
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FINISH THE CAKE
Finish with a smooth top or pipe on the remaining frosting. Add a drizzle (or spread) of salted ganache and shaved dark chocolate to take it up a notch.
Finish with a smooth top or pipe on the remaining frosting. Add a drizzle (or spread) of salted ganache and shaved dark chocolate to take it up a notch.
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THINGS YOU’LL NEED
Before you get started, please make sure you have everything from the lists below.
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All-purpose unbleached flour
Potato starch (Bob’s Red Mill)
Dutch-processed cocoa powder (Droste brand)
Baking soda
Baking powder
Fine sea salt
Neutral oil
Cane sugar
Vanilla extract
Almond milk
Apple cider vinegar
Shortening
Maple flavor (optional but strongly recommended)
Cacao powder (not Dutch-processed)
4 oz 70% dark chocolate
*Baking powder needs to be fresh. If you’ve not replaced yours within the past couple of months, it’s time.
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Mixing bowls
Fine mesh sieve
Balloon whisk
Spatulas
Hand or stand mixer
Measuring spoons (and cups, if you don’t have a scale)
9x13” cake pan
Parchment paper
6x2” cake ring
6” cake board
4” cake collar
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A few items that make things easier, but are not required for this course.
Food scale (strongly encouraged)
Disposable decorating bag (here’s a reusable option)
Offset spatula (for a gorgeous, smooth top)
Squeeze bottle (great for decorating then storing ganache, caramel, etc.)