Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Filling

Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Filling

Ingredients

For the Chocolate Cake

    • 2 cups all-purpose flour

    • 1¾ cups granulated sugar

    • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

    • 2 tsp baking soda

    • 1 tsp baking powder

    • ½ tsp salt

 • 1 cup buttermilk

(or 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp vinegar, rest 5 minutes)

    • ½ cup vegetable oil

    • 2 large eggs

    • 2 tsp vanilla extract

    • 1 cup hot water or hot coffee ☕ (enhances chocolate flavor)

For the Strawberry Filling 🍓

    • 2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries (chopped)

    • ⅓ cup sugar (adjust to taste)

    • 1 tbsp lemon juice

    • 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water

For the Chocolate Frosting / Ganache 🍫

    • 1 cup heavy cream

 • 200 g semi-sweet or dark chocolate (chopped)

    • 1 tbsp butter (optional, for shine)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Chocolate Cake

    1. Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease and line two 20–22 cm pans.

 2. In a bowl, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

    3. Add buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.

    4. Slowly stir in hot water/coffee. Batter will be thin.

    5. Divide evenly into pans and bake 30–35 minutes.

    6. Cool completely before assembling.

Strawberry Filling

    1. Cook strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice over medium heat.

    2. Stir in cornstarch mixture.

    3. Cook until thickened, about 3–5 minutes.

    4. Cool completely before using.

Chocolate Ganache

    1. Heat cream until just simmering.

 2. Pour over chocolate and butter.

    3. Let sit 2 minutes, then stir until smooth.

Assemble the Cake

    1. Place one cake layer on a plate.

    2. Spread strawberry filling evenly.

 3. Top with second cake layer.

    4. Cover with chocolate ganache.

✨ Optional: garnish with fresh strawberries or chocolate shavings.