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Chocolate Birthday Cake

Chocolate Birthday Cake

This rich, moist triple-layer Chocolate Birthday Cake features deep chocolate flavor in every bite. Made with coffee-enhanced cake layers, silky chocolate filling, and smooth buttercream frosting, it's perfect for birthdays and special celebrations. The recipe is straightforward but creates impressive results that serve 12-16 people.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert, Special Occasion
Cuisine American
Servings 16 slices
Calories 485 kcal

Equipment

  • 3 (8-inch) round cake pans
  • Stand mixer or hand mixer
  • Stand mixer or hand mixer
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Offset spatula
  • Wire cooling racks
  • Parchment paper
  • Rubber spatula
  • Sifter or fine-mesh strainer
  • Cake turntable (optional but helpful)
  • Serrated knife for leveling

Ingredients
  

Cake Layers

  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 large eggs room temp
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup hot coffee
  • 1 cup hot water

Chocolate Filling

  • 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate chopped
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter

Chocolate Buttercream

  • 1½ cups unsalted butter softened
  • 4½ cups powdered sugar
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

For the Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch cake pans.
  • Mix dry ingredients: flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt.
  • Whisk wet ingredients separately: eggs, milk, oil, vanilla.
  • Combine wet and dry ingredients until just mixed.
  • Add hot coffee and water, mix until smooth.
  • Divide between pans, bake 25-30 minutes.
  • Cool 10 minutes in pans, then completely on racks.

For the Filling

  • Pour hot cream over chocolate.
  • Let sit 5 minutes, stir until smooth.
  • Add butter, stir until melted.
  • Chill until spreadable.

For the Buttercream

  • Beat butter until creamy.
  • Add sugar and cocoa gradually.
  • Mix in cream and vanilla.
  • Beat until fluffy (5 minutes).

Assembly

  • Layer cakes with chocolate filling between.
  • Coat entire cake with buttercream.
  • Decorate with sprinkles if desired.

Notes

  • Use room temperature ingredients
  • Don't overmix the batter
  • Let layers cool completely
  • Chill between frosting layers

Nutrition

Serving: 1SliceCalories: 485kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 6gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 315mgPotassium: 185mgFiber: 3gSugar: 42gVitamin A: 650IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 75mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Chocolate Birthday Cake
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