Three Layer Chocolate Fudge Cake Recipes

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease two 9-inch cake pans, line with parchment paper, then grease the parchment paper. Parchment paper helps the cakes seamlessly release from the pans.
• Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder (if using) together in a large bowl. Set aside. Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or you can use a whisk) mix the oil, eggs, and vanilla together on medium-high speed until combined. Add the buttermilk and mix until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, add the hot water/coffee, and whisk or beat on low speed until the batter is completely combined. Batter is thin.
• Divide batter evenly between pans. Bake for 23-26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Baking times vary, so keep an eye on yours. The cakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (Note: Even if they're completely done, the cooled cakes may *slightly* sink in the center. Cocoa powder is simply not as structurally strong as all-purpose flour and can't hold up to all the moisture necessary to make a moist tasting chocolate cake. It's normal!)
• Remove the cakes from the oven and set on a wire rack. Allow to cool completely in the pan.
• With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy - about 2 minutes. Add confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, 3 Tablespoons heavy cream, salt, and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase to high speed and beat for 1 full minute. Do not over-whip. Add 1/4 cup more confectioners' sugar or cocoa powder if frosting is too thin or 1-2 more Tablespoons of cream if frosting is too thick. (I usually add 1 more.) Taste. Add another pinch of salt if desired.
• If cooled cakes are domed on top, use a large serrated knife to slice a thin layer off the tops to create a flat surface. This is called "leveling" the cakes. Discard or crumble over finished cake. Place 1 cake layer on your cake stand or serving plate. Evenly cover the top with frosting. Top with 2nd layer and spread remaining frosting all over the top and sides. I always use an icing spatula and bench scraper for the frosting. Garnish with chocolate chips, if desired.
• Refrigerate cake for at least 30-60 minutes before slicing. This helps the cake hold its shape when cutting.
• Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

THE ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE FUDGE THREE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• For cake: Combine water and chocolate in small saucepan; cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate melts.
• Remove from heat and let cool.
• Beat 2/3 cup shortening until creamy; gradually add 1 3/4 cups sugar, beating well and scrapping down edges of bowl.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Sift 2 1/2 cups flour, soda, and 1/2 tsp salt; add to cake batter, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
• Add cooled chocolate mixture and 1 tsp vanilla; mix just until blended.
• Pour batter into three greased and floured 9-inch layer pans.
• Bake at 350* for 17-20 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool in pans on wire wracks for 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wracks.
• For filling: Place 1/4 cup flour in small saucepan; gradually stir in milk.
• Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thick.
• Remove from heat and let cool completely.
• Beat butter and 1/2 cup shortening until creamy; gradually add 1 cup sugar, beating well.
• Add 1 Tbsp vanilla, 1/4 tsp salt, and milk mixture; beat until smooth.
• Spread filling between cake layers.
• For frosting: Combine 3 cups sugar, 3/4 cup milk, 3/4 cup butter, 3 ounces chocolate in a medium saucepan.
• Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate melts.
• Cook over medium heat until mixture boils; boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
• Beat at high speed of electric mixer until frosting is of spreading consistency.
• Immediately spread on cake.
• Garnish with chocolate shavings.

THREE LAYER FUDGE

Steps:

• Line a 9-in. square pan with foil; butter the foil with 1 teaspoon butter. Set aside. , For chocolate layer, butter the sides of a large heavy saucepan with 1 teaspoon butter; add the sugar, cream, chocolate, corn syrup, and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil. Boil until mixture reaches 236° (soft-ball stage), stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat., Add vanilla and remaining butter (do not stir). Cool to 110, ° without stirring. Stir with a clean dry wooden spoon until fudge begins to thicken; add nuts. Continue stirring until fudge becomes thick and begins to lose its gloss, about 10 minutes. Immediately spread into prepared pan; set aside. , For cherry almond layer, butter the sides of a clean large heavy saucepan with 1 teaspoon butter; add the sugar, cream, corn syrup and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil. Boil until mixture reaches 236° (soft-ball stage), stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat. , Add almond extract and remaining butter (do not stir). Cool to 110° without stirring. Stir with a clean dry wooden spoon until fudge begins to thicken; add cherries and food coloring if desired. Continue stirring until fudge becomes thick and begins to lose its gloss, about 8 minutes. Immediately spread over first layer. , For coconut vanilla layer, butter the sides of a clean large heavy saucepan with 1 teaspoon butter; add the sugar, cream, corn syrup and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil. Boil until mixture reaches 236° (soft-ball stage), stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat. , Add vanilla and remaining butter (do not stir). Cool to 110° without stirring. Stir with a clean dry wooden spoon until fudge begins to thicken; add coconut. Continue stirring until fudge becomes thick and begins to lose its gloss, about 8 minutes. Immediately spread over second layer. , Score into squares while still warm. Using foil, lift fudge out of pan. Discard foil; cut fudge into 1-in. squares. Store in an airtight container.

FUDGE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Line three greased 9-in. round baking pans with waxed paper and grease the paper; set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in chocolate. Combine the cake flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture alternately with water, beating well after each addition. , Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, all-purpose flour, milk and egg until smooth. Add the dates. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat. Stir in walnuts and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate., For frosting, combine the cream, sugar and corn syrup in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; stir in chocolate and butter until melted. Transfer to a small bowl. Refrigerate until spreadable, stirring occasionally. , Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with half of the filling. Repeat. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread frosting over top and sides of cake. Store in the refrigerator.

BEST-EVER CHOCOLATE FUDGE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Chop 2 oz. chocolate. Beat cake mix, dry pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, oil and water in large bowl with mixer until blended. Stir in chopped chocolate. Pour into 2 (9-inch) round pans sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake 30 to 35 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min. Loosen cakes from sides of pans. Invert onto wire racks; gently remove pans. Cool cakes completely.
• Microwave COOL WHIP and remaining chocolate in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 1 min. Let stand 15 min. to thicken.
• Stack cake layers on plate, filling and frosting with COOL WHIP mixture. Sprinkle with nuts.

THREE-LAYER CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH IRISH COFFEE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper, then spray with baking spray. Place a large aluminum mixing bowl in the freezer.
• Place chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl. Whisk hot coffee and cocoa together in a separate bowl until smooth; stir in buttermilk.
• Cream brown sugar, butter, and vanilla extract in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating briefly after each addition. Mix in cooled chocolate. Add flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with buttermilk mixture, beating batter briefly after each addition. Divide batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Invert carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack and remove parchment paper. Let cool, about 30 minutes.
• Flip cakes over and trim the top of each one to make it flat. Drizzle 1/4 cup cream liqueur over each cake and allow to soak in while you make the frosting.
• Remove aluminum bowl from the freezer; add heavy cream and instant coffee granules. Beat with an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment until soft peaks start to form. Add powdered sugar and whisk until medium peaks form. Add pudding mix gradually on low speed. Fold in cream liqueur. Taste and adjust with more powdered sugar, if needed.
• Place one cake on a serving plate, top with 1/3 of the fudge sauce, and spread a generous layer of coffee frosting on top; repeat with the second layer. Add the remaining cake and top with remaining fudge sauce. Crumb-coat the sides of the cake lightly with frosting.
• Fit a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip and fill with frosting. Pipe 1 vertical line of dots from the bottom to the top edge of the cake. Place a spoon over the center of each dot and drag to create a petal effect, wiping the spoon clean after each swipe. Pipe another line of dots in the tails of the previous petals and repeat dragging motion. Continue to pipe dots and create petals around the entire cake, finishing with a line of dots.

3-LAYER FUDGE CAKE WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE FILLING

Steps:

• Make cake:
• 1- Preheat oven to 325 °F.
• 2- Butter and flour three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 ½-inch-high sides.
• 3- Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in small bowl to blend.
• 4- Place cocoa in medium bowl; whisk in 1 2/3 cups boiling water. Cool cocoa mixture to room temperature, whisking occasionally.
• 5- Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar, then vanilla. Beat in eggs 1 at a time.
• 6- At low speed, beat in flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with cocoa mixture in 2 additions.
• 7- Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes. Cut around cakes to loosen. Turn out onto racks/plates lined w/ wax paper so they don't stick. Cool completely.
• Make peppermint mousse:
• 1- Combine white chocolate, ¾ cup whipping cream, and sour cream in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heat just until chocolate is melted and smooth.
• 2- Transfer white chocolate mixture to large bowl; cool to barely lukewarm, whisking occasionally, about 20 minutes.
• 3- Mix in candies.
• 4- Beat remaining 1 cup cream in medium bowl to soft peaks. Fold cream into barely lukewarm white chocolate mixture in 4 additions.
• 5- Chill mousse until beginning to set, about 2 hours.
• 6- Place 1 cake layer on cardboard round or cake tray. Spread half of mousse over top of cake. Top with second cake layer, remaining mousse, and third cake layer. Chill assembled cake until mousse is cold & set, about 3 hours (can be made a day ahead).
• Make ganache:
• 1- Bring cream to simmer in heavy large saucepan.
• 2- Remove from heat. Add semisweet chocolate; whisk until melted & smooth.
• 3- Cool ganache until thick but still pourable, about 45 minutes.
• 4- Place cake on rack or baking sheet. Pour ganache over cake, spreading with metal spatula to cover sides evenly.
• 5- Chill cake till ganache sets, at least 30 minutes & up to 1 day.

TRIPLE-FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease and lightly flour bottom only of 13x9-inch pan.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave condensed milk and 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips uncovered on Medium (50%) about 1 minute or until chocolate is softened; stir until smooth, and set aside.
• In large bowl, beat dry cake mix and oil with electric mixer on low speed about 15 seconds or until crumbly; reserve 3/4 cup. Add applesauce and eggs to remaining mixture; beat on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl occasionally (batter will be thick and grainy). Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Spread batter in pan.
• Drop melted chocolate mixture by teaspoonfuls over batter, dropping more around edge than in center. Stir remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips and the pecans into reserved cake mixture; crumble over batter.
• Bake 37 to 43 minutes or until center is set. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen cake. Cool completely, about 2 hours. Store covered.

EASY CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Bake a box chocolate cake as directed. While hot from the oven, poke holes over entire cake with a fork. While the cake is cooking prepare the fudge sauce.
• For the fudge sauce: In a saucepan, combine butter, sugar, cocoa and cream. Stir over medium heat until a full boil starts. Cook at a full boil for 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Pour while hot over warm cake. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts. Serve alone or with ice-cream.

TRIPLE-CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Grease 9-inch round cake pan. In 2-quart heavy saucepan, melt 1 cup of the chocolate chips and 1/2 cup butter over low heat, stirring constantly; cool 5 minutes. Stir in flour until smooth. Stir in egg yolks until well blended.
• In large bowl, beat egg whites with electric mixer on high speed until foamy. Beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until soft peaks form. Fold chocolate mixture into egg whites. Spread in pan.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (top will appear dry and cracked). Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around edge of pan to loosen; remove cake from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Place cake on serving plate.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons butter and the corn syrup over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate chips are melted. Spread over top of cake, allowing some to drizzle down side.
• In 1-quart saucepan, melt glaze ingredients over low heat, stirring constantly. Drizzle over top of cake.