Chocolate Strawberry Layer Cake

 

Chocolate Strawberry Layer Cake

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups granulated sugar

¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tsp baking powder

1 ½ tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk

½ cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup hot water

For the Fillings:

2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and halved

2 cups chocolate ganache (made with chocolate + cream)

2 cups pastry cream or vanilla custard

For the Ganache Frosting:

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup heavy cream

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line three 9-inch cake pans.

2. In a bowl, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Add buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Mix until combined. Stir in hot water (batter will be thin).

4. Divide batter into pans and bake 30–35 minutes. Cool completely.

5. Prepare ganache by heating cream and pouring over chocolate chips. Stir until smooth.

6. Place first cake layer on a plate, spread pastry cream, add strawberries, and drizzle ganache.

7. Add second cake layer, spread ganache, more strawberries, then pastry cream.

8. Add third cake layer and cover entire cake with ganache frosting.

9. Chill for 1 hour before slicing to set layers.