Description
This old fashioned chocolate truffle cake is rich, moist, and intensely chocolatey with real ganache frosting—perfect for any celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chocolate Cake Layers:
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1¾ cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- ½ cup hot brewed coffee or hot water
For the Chocolate Truffle Ganache:
- 12 oz dark chocolate (60–70% cocoa), chopped
- 1¼ cups heavy cream
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- Pinch of sea salt
Optional Garnishes:
- Dark chocolate curls or shavings
- Cocoa powder for dusting
- Fresh raspberries or strawberries
- Edible gold leaf or chocolate pearls
Instructions
- Prep the Cake Pans:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round pans, line bottoms with parchment, and flour the sides. - Mix Dry Ingredients:
Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. - Cream Butter & Sugar:
Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla. - Combine Wet & Dry:
Alternate mixing in dry ingredients and buttermilk. Stir in hot coffee last. - Bake the Cakes:
Divide batter into pans. Bake 30–35 min, until toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Cool 10 min in pans, then fully on racks. - Make the Ganache:
Heat cream until simmering. Pour over chopped chocolate, let sit 2 min. Add butter and salt, whisk smooth. Cool to spreadable consistency. - Assemble the Cake:
Level cake layers. Spread ganache between layers and over top/sides. Chill 30 min before slicing. - Garnish (Optional):
Add berries, chocolate curls, or a dusting of cocoa powder.
Notes
- Substitute dairy with vegan options like coconut cream or almond milk buttermilk.
- Use gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum for a GF version.
- Cake layers and ganache can be made ahead.
- Store covered at room temp (2 days), refrigerate (5 days), or freeze (2 months).
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American/French Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 465 kcal
- Sugar: 33g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 51g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 85mg