Strawberry Chocolate Cake (Printable View)
Decadent chocolate cake layered with smooth ganache and fresh strawberries, ideal for celebrations
# Ingredient List:
→ Cake
01 - 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
03 - 2 cups granulated sugar
04 - 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
05 - 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
06 - 1/2 tsp salt
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1 cup whole milk
09 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
10 - 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
11 - 1 cup boiling water
→ Chocolate Ganache
12 - 1 cup heavy cream
13 - 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
→ Strawberry Filling & Topping
14 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
15 - 1-2 tbsp granulated sugar (optional)
16 - Extra whole or halved strawberries for decoration
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
02 - In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
03 - Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla to the dry ingredients. Beat on medium speed until well combined.
04 - Gradually add boiling water, mixing until the batter is smooth. The batter will be thin.
05 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
06 - Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
07 - Heat cream in a small saucepan until it just begins to simmer. Pour over chopped chocolate in a bowl. Let sit for 2-3 minutes, then stir until glossy and smooth. Cool until thickened but spreadable.
08 - Toss sliced strawberries with sugar if desired. Let sit for 10 minutes to soften slightly.
09 - Spread a layer of ganache over the first cake layer. Top with half the sliced strawberries. Place second cake layer on top, spread remaining ganache evenly, and arrange more strawberries on top. Decorate with extra whole or halved strawberries.
10 - Chill for at least 30 minutes before slicing for clean layers.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The combination of rich chocolate ganache and bright fresh strawberries strikes the perfect balance between indulgent and refreshing
- This cake actually gets better after chilling overnight, making it ideal for making ahead of time
02 -
- The batter will be alarmingly thin after adding the boiling water, but this is normal and essential for the cake's moist texture
- Ganache needs time to cool to the right consistency, warm ganache will slide right off your cake layers
03 -
- Use the highest quality chocolate you can find in the ganache, since it's the star of the show
- Brush each cake layer with simple syrup before assembly if you're making the cake ahead of time