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Special-Occasion Chocolate Cake Recipe

Special-Occasion Chocolate Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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“This cake won Grand Champion at the 2000 Alaska State Fair,” and you will see why once you taste it. This decadent chocolate cake boasts a luscious ganache filling and fudge buttercream frosting. —Cindi Paulson, Anchorage, Alaska

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Special-Occasion Chocolate Cake Recipe

Prep: 40 min. + chilling Bake: 25 min. + cooling

Yield: 12 Servings

40 25 65

Ingredients

1 cup baking cocoa
2 cups boiling water
1 cup butter, softened
2-1/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
GANACHE:
10 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons sugar
FROSTING:
1 cup butter, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1/4 cup 2% milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
GARNISH:
3/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Directions

In a small bowl, combine cocoa and water; set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with cocoa mixture, beating well after each addition.
Pour into three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
For ganache, place chocolate in a small bowl. In a small heavy saucepan over low heat, bring cream and sugar to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk gently until smooth. Refrigerate for 35-45 minutes or until ganache begins to thicken, stirring occasionally.
For frosting, in a large bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Add the confectioners' sugar, cocoa, milk and vanilla; beat until smooth.
Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with second layer and 1 cup ganache; sprinkle with 1/2 cup almonds. Top with third layer; frost top and sides of cake. Warm ganache until pourable; pour over cake, allowing some to drape down the sides. Sprinkle with remaining almonds. Refrigerate until serving. Yield: 12 servings.

Nutritional Facts 1 slice equals 961 calories, 51 g fat (29 g saturated fat), 178 mg cholesterol, 574 mg sodium, 123 g carbohydrate, 5 g fiber, 11 g protein.

Originally published as Special-Occasion Chocolate Cake in Taste of Home October/November 2008, p33

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Reviews for Special-Occasion Chocolate Cake

Special-Occasion Chocolate Cake

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Reviewed on Jan. 12, 2011 by luvtotaste

I have not made this recipe yet, however I am very anxious to try it. I have a special birthday coming up for my nephew and he is a chocolate lover. What a wonderful presentation this cake has made. Can't wait!!

Reviewed on Nov. 23, 2010 by pdmgeg

Yes, as someone else mentioned this does take a long time to make, but the end results were worth every minute! I made it for a special birthday, and everyone loved it! It is a delicious cake and makes quite an awesome presentation. I used pecans in place of the almonds. I would definitely make again!

Reviewed on Jul. 28, 2010 by anneengel

I totally agree that it was inappropriate for vinca to give a durogatory rating - so excited to know she is concerned about her health - really didnt need to know this. I on the other hand have actually made this cake, and am a very healthy person - this cake is wonderful! I would recommend it for any occasion - a recipe for the keep file.

Reviewed on Apr. 06, 2010 by heather.holdaway

This cake is DELICIOUS! It takes a long time to make so I would definitely only make it for special occasions but it is a chocolate-lover's dream. It seemed to taste even better the next day. I didn't have sliced almonds but I used toasted chopped almonds and it was very good.

Reviewed on Dec. 18, 2009 by j.kathleen.mcdonald

I made this for our Christmas dinner yesterday, they loved the cake, they loved the way it looked! YES, it is a keeper!

Reviewed on Nov. 29, 2009 by lkreed

I agree with wjc50......if you can't make the cake then MOVE ON!! Yes it has a lot of calories, but the name kind of gives you a hint..."Special Occasion"! I can't wait to make this and don't really care what the calories are!

Reviewed on Nov. 19, 2009 by wjc50

Why do people give a bad review (1-star) when they haven't even made the recipe?

Reviewed on Nov. 18, 2009 by roberta123

Haven't made it yet. It looks scrumptious!

Reviewed on Nov. 17, 2009 by angiemcdougal

This is an awesome cake and is delicious the next day as well!!! I made this for a special birthday party and it was a HIT! ;0))

Reviewed on Nov. 16, 2009 by vinca

I could not make this cake. I could feel my arteries closing up while I was reading the ingredients. I'm sure it must taste wonderful,but 961 calories and 51 grams of fat,29 of which are saturated!!That cannot be good.