Decadent Chocolate Wedding Cake with White Buttercream
Decadent Chocolate Wedding Cake with White Buttercream
Contents
Key Info:
Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours
Servings: 14
Difficulty: Moderate
Dietary Tags: Contains gluten, dairy, eggs
Equipment Needed:
- 8-inch round cake pans
- Stand mixer
- Digital kitchen scale
- Cooling racks
- Offset spatula
- Cake boards
Pro Tip: Want a wedding cake that’ll make guests swoon? This chocolate masterpiece is your ticket to dessert fame.
Ingredients:
Cake Dry Ingredients:
- 500g all-purpose flour
- 600g granulated sugar
- 180g Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- 14g baking soda
- 3g baking powder
- 9g fine salt
Cake Wet Ingredients:
- 340g unsalted butter, room temperature
- 300g eggs (about 6 large)
- 240ml buttermilk
- 120ml vegetable oil
- 30ml vanilla extract
- 240ml hot water
White Buttercream:
- 4½ cups powdered sugar
- 1½ cups salted butter
- 1½ tsp clear vanilla extract
- 3-4 tbsp heavy whipping cream
Game-Changing Method:
- Prep Like a Pro
- Bring all ingredients to room temperature
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Prep cake pans with butter and flour
- Mix Dry Ingredients
- Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt
- Whisk until perfectly integrated
- Wet Ingredient Magic
- In separate bowl, whisk buttermilk, hot water, oil, eggs, and vanilla
- Pro Hack: Add a shot of espresso powder for deeper chocolate flavor
- Combine with Precision
- Slowly mix wet ingredients into dry
- Critical Move: Mix on low speed to prevent tough cake
- Batter should be smooth and glossy
- Baking Perfection
- Divide batter evenly between pans
- Bake 30-35 minutes
- Doneness Test: Toothpick comes out clean
- Cool completely (1-2 hours)
- Frosting Finesse
- Beat butter until creamy
- Gradually add powdered sugar
- Incorporate vanilla and cream
- Whip until cloud-like and smooth
- Assembly Artistry
- Level cake layers
- Apply thin crumb coat
- Chill for 20-30 minutes
- Final frosting layer
- Decorate with chocolate shavings
Crucial Tips:
- Room temperature ingredients = better texture
- Don’t overmix batter
- Chill between frosting layers
- Use offset spatula for smooth finish
Storage Wisdom:
- Refrigerate up to 4 days
- Bring to room temperature before serving
- Can be frozen for up to 2 months
Epic Variations:
- Add coffee for intense chocolate
- Mix vanilla and chocolate tiers
- Try chocolate buttercream
- Add fruit fillings between layers
Common Mistakes to Dodge:
- Opening oven too early
- Frosting warm cake
- Overmixing batter
- Uneven layer distribution
Wedding Day Hack:
Make components ahead and assemble day-of for maximum freshness!
Flavor Profile:
Rich, decadent chocolate with silky smooth vanilla buttercream – a match made in dessert heaven.
Bon appétit, cake champions! 🍫👰🎂