Chocolate Fudge Cake
Sometimes the best things in life are the understated. Like this simple chocolate fudge cake with ganache filling and frosting. No fancy swirls or sprinkles or fillings. Just a good quality chocolate cake.
Today is my birthday, and like the cake, we’re keeping the celebration simple this year. We’re having some friends over for a cookout next weekend to celebrate. There will be some grilling, a game or two of bocci, and smores. I can’t wait for the upcoming opposite of an over-the-top party.
While this cake may seem understated, the flavors are rich and chocolatey, like a chocolate cake should be. Using a simple ganache to fill and frost the cake just adds to the decadence and keeps the cake extremely moist. With a simple candle, this would make any birthday boy or girl giddy with joy.
Three Years Ago: PB&J Omelet
Four Years Ago: Crockpot French Dip Sandwich
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Yield: Serves 12-14
Ingredients:
For the Cake
2 cups (14 ounces) sugar
2 cups (8 1/2 ounces) flour
2 Tbsp (3/8 ounce) cornstarch
3/4 cup (2 1/4 ounces) dark cocoa or Dutch-process cocoa
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp espresso powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 eggs
3/4 cup (5 1/4 ounces) vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) water
For the Filling
12 ounces semisweet chocolate
6 ounces cream (light, whipping, or heavy) or milk, or a combination
3 Tbsp Framboise
For the Frosting
8 ounces semisweet chocolate
4 ounces cream (light, whipping, or heavy)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degF. Lightly grease and flour two 8" x 2" round cake pans.
For the Cake
Whisk together the dry ingredients. Add the eggs, oil, and vanilla, beating until smooth. Gradually add the water, beating until smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared pans.
Bake the cakes for 35 to 38 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the cakes in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn them out of the pans to cool completely on a rack.
For the Filling
Combine the chocolate and cream in a microwave-safe bowl, and heat until the cream is very hot, and the chocolate very soft. Stir to melt the chocolate completely, reheating very briefly if necessary. Stir in the Framboise (see KAF recipe for alternative flavoring options)
Divide the cooled layers in half horizontally, to make four layers. Place one layer on a serving plate, and spread with filling. Repeat with the next two layers. Top with the final cake layer.
For the Frosting
Combine the chocolate and cream in a microwave-safe bowl, and heat until the cream is very hot, and the chocolate very soft. Stir to melt the chocolate completely, reheating very briefly if necessary.
Pour and spread the icing over the top of the cake, letting it drip over the edges and down the sides. Once it’s done dripping, you may smooth the sides with an icing spatula, if desired.
Allow the cake to rest, covered with a cake cover until the chocolate is set; overnight is good, though several hours are sufficient.
Recipe from King Arthur Flour
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
Aren’t they the best? They’re so addicting. I’ve actually starting using the same ingredients, but mixing them like a more traditional chocolate chip cookie (i.e., softened butter instead of melted), because I like the dough better with softened butter. The baked cookies were just as good. Best of both worlds!
These look gorgeous. Don’t you just love AB??? 🙂
The cookies look great. I love AB too..he’s such a dork (in a good way).
I love the ATK/CI Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies. I will have to try these to see what I think. I remember seeing that the recipes looked similar so I am sure I will love them.
Another AB lover here. My husband gives me a hard time about my DVR list with him but loves it when I give him a fun tidbit or cook him something from AB.
I completely agree CoCo. Hubby does the same thing. I sometimes even watch episodes I’ve seen before! Hubby doesn’t like to admit it, but he loves AB too. Sometimes he’ll be the one saying “AB says to do this…”
They look SO good!! I am a sucker for a chewy chocolate chip cookie. Although, I must side with your hubby – I prefer mine with just a bit of chocolate.
How much is a stick of butter? I’m not in the US and have never come across this measurement before.
Sorry about that Naomi – 1 stick of butter = 8 Tbsp. Does that help?
this is very similar to the ccc recipe i use, but anything that makes it chewier is good in my books! i will have to keep this one in mind 🙂
Yes Jen, thank you!
Yum! I will definitely be trying these. I always chill my cookie dough too usually because I’m too busy with 3 little ones but I also read that article in the NY times awhile ago and I felt like I deserved a nice big pat on the back for always doing the 24hour chill 🙂 Great post and beautiful cookies!
I love Alton Brown because of his scientific approach to cooking and baking. I’ve been baking “The Chewy” for years. One thing I do differently: Before chilling the dough, I scoop it into balls. This makes the process much easier. Sometimes I freeze the balls for baking later. After I place the balls on parchment, I carefully place a few extra chocolate morsels on top, pointy side up. This extra step produces picture-perfect cookies every time.
The Chewy is my go to recipe for cookies. I make a few alterations, occasionally, such as substituting 1/4 of the brown sugar with dark brown sugar. I bake small portions in mini muffin tins; one batch makes 48 cookie bites that are super chewy and the perfect size bite. I’ve made them every year for Christmas gifts for a few years now.