Decadent Dark Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Buttercream is an indulgent chocolate treat. Sweet strawberry buttercream, sandwiched between layers or rich dark chocolate cake.
Dark Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Buttercream
Some say Valentine's Day is a day about love, but we all know that it's just an excuse to eat lots of chocolate and strawberries. Or is it just me? In any case, this decadent Dark Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Buttercream will satisfy your sweet tooth, and is also the perfect treat for your sweetheart. Win-win, right?
Dark Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Buttercream Recipe
Dark Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Buttercream
Ingredients
For the Dark Chocolate Cake
- 2½ cups cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 egg yolks unbeaten
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 egg whites beaten stiff
- 6 ounces 1 bar dark chocolate
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
For the Strawberry Buttercream
- Double batch of my Strawberry Buttercream recipe HERE with real strawberries
- Strawberries for topping
Instructions
For the Dark Chocolate Cake
- Sift or mix flour, salt, and baking soda together in a bowl. Set aside.
- Melt chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave for 20 seconds at a time. It will take a few times to get it all the way melted, but it's really important not to burn the chocolate. So keep it in short increments, stirring each time. When chocolate is fully melted, set aside to cool a bit.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Mix in cooled chocolate and vanilla.
- Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk in thirds (So add about a third of the flour mixture, followed by ⅓ cup of milk, and continue until both are entire mixed in). Beat after each addition until smooth.
- Fold in stiff egg whites.
- Bake at 350° in a lined and greased cake pan for 30-40 minutes, until cooked through. This recipe will make about three 8-inch layers or two 9-in layers.
For the Strawberry Buttercream
- Add strawberries and lemon juice to a small saucepan. Over medium heat, bring mixture to a simmer, stirring often. Your strawberries will become soft enough that they will basically mash themselves while you're mixing. Simmer for about 20 minutes, or until you have about ⅓ cup of strawberry puree mixture.
- If you don't want seeds or skins in your buttercream, strain the strawberry puree through a fine mesh strainer at this point. (I did not strain mine, but did run it through a food processor to make sure it was extra smooth) Allow to cool to room temperature
- In a large mixing bowl, add butter and blackberry puree. Beat together with a mixer until mixture is smooth.
- Add in the powdered sugar, and beat on medium-high until mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Add your milk or cream and beat again to combine. Test your buttercream now. If it's still too thick, continue adding milk or cream, 1 tablespoon at a time until buttercream reaches desired consistency.
To assemble the cake
- Place one of the cake layers on a serving plate or board. Frost with a third of the frosting. Add the next layer, and repeat.
- Top with fresh strawberries and additional dark chocolate chunks.
Nutrition
Did you like this Dark Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Buttercream recipe? Find more on my Cakes & Cupcakes, Desserts, and Valentine's Day boards on Pinterest!
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Katherines Corner says
Thank you for sharing this wonderful treat at the Thursday Favorite things blog hop., I featured you on google plus and facebook. Pinned xo
Kristen says
This is so gorgeous, Michelle! Perfect for Valentine's Day!
Michelle says
Thank you 🙂
Rajiv Kumar says
Superb!!! cake , i love this recipe and thanks to you for giving this super recipe. I will try this recipe recently. Thanks!!!
Amanda says
I would love your strawberry buttercream frosting recipe... I can see the directions of how to assemble it, but when I click on the "here" button for the ingredients, it doesn't work for me!...?
Michelle says
I updated the recipe! You can also find it at the link below or by using the search bar in the menu to search for strawberry buttercream! I hope that helps!
https://www.thegraciouswife.com/strawberry-buttercream-frosting/
Amanda says
Thank you so much!! 🙂
M Johnson says
How do you give the cake layers that old school look? is it from the parchment being scrunched up? MJ
Michelle says
Yes, it is. 🙂