Chocolate Strawberry Layer Cake

Chocolate Strawberry Layer Cake

Cake size

6-inch round cake, 4 tall layers

(You can also bake as 2 layers and slice each in half)

Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour – 1¾ cups (220 g)
• Granulated sugar – 1½ cups (300 g)
• Unsweetened cocoa powder – ¾ cup (75 g)
• Baking powder – 1½ teaspoons
• Baking soda – 1½ teaspoons
• Salt – ½ teaspoon
• Eggs – 2 large
• Vegetable oil – ½ cup (120 ml)
• Milk – ¾ cup (180 ml)
• Hot water or hot coffee – ¾ cup (180 ml)
• Vanilla extract – 2 teaspoons

Method

Preheat oven to 170°C (340°F). Grease and line cake pans.

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

Add eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.

Slowly add hot water or coffee and mix gently. Batter will be thin.

Divide batter evenly into prepared pans.

Bake for 30–35 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

Cool completely before slicing and layering.

Strawberry Cream Filling

Ingredients

• Fresh strawberries (blended smooth) – 1 cup (240 ml)
• Granulated sugar – 3 tablespoons
• Cornstarch – 1 tablespoon
• Water – 2 tablespoons

Method

Cook strawberry puree and sugar on low heat.

Mix cornstarch with water and add to the puree.

Cook until thick and glossy. Cool completely before using.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• Cream cheese (soft) – 400 g
• Unsalted butter (soft) – 200 g
• Icing sugar – 4 cups (480 g)
• Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon

Optional

Pink food coloring – small amount

Method

Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth and fluffy.

Gradually add icing sugar and vanilla.

Divide frosting into two bowls. Tint one portion pink for the strawberry layers.

Chocolate Ganache Drip

Ingredients

• Dark chocolate – 150 g
• Whipping cream – ½ cup (120 ml)
• Method
• Heat cream until just hot.
• Pour over chopped chocolate and let sit for 2 minutes.
• Stir until smooth and slightly cooled.

Assembly

Slice chocolate cakes into even layers.

Place one chocolate layer on the cake board.

Spread plain cream cheese frosting, then a thin layer of strawberry filling.

Repeat layers, alternating with pink strawberry frosting like in the picture.

Cover the entire cake with cream cheese frosting.

Drip chocolate ganache around the edges.

Pipe pink frosting on top and decorate with strawberries and chocolate.