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Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

December 3, 2017 by Kayley 49 Comments

*I’m sharing this post on behalf of SHARFFEN BERGER as part of a sponsored series by Social Stars.

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is making and drinking my famous Thick Spiced Italian Hot Chocolate. I love it so much that I decided it needed to make in a more substantial form – cake. The most important part of any chocolate cake? The quality of the chocolate used. SCHARFFEN BERGER Unsweetened Cocoa Powder fit the bill flawlessly. Organic and non-gmo, SCHARFFEN BERGER Cocoa Powder is Rainforest Alliance Certified and sourced from small cocoa farms.

SHARFFEN BERGER Cocoa powder is pure in flavor, unbeatable in quality, and was the perfect cocoa powder to do my spiced hot chocolate cake justice.

The cake is pure chocolate. Soft and rich. Layering it with a spiced buttercream brings it to life. Grass-fed butter is whipped with powdered sugar, cinnamon, and just a dash of cayenne pepper. The cayenne adds a little bit of heat and is what sets this cake apart from other hot chocolate-inspired cakes. I topped the cake with little meringue mushrooms and cinnamon sticks, but if you wanted an easier way to decorate it, cinnamon sticks and rosemary sprigs would suffice. I like to store the cake in the fridge, but let it sit at room temperature for an hour or two before serving.

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

 

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake
 
Print
Serves: one 8" round cake
Ingredients
  • FOR THE CAKE;
  • 3 cups Flour
  • 2½ cups Raw Cane Sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Baking Powder
  • 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
  • 1 cup SCHARFFEN BERGER Cocoa Powder
  • 1½ teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Espresso Powder
  • 3 Eggs
  • 1 tablespoon Vanilla
  • ¾ cup Coconut Oil (liquefied)
  • 1½ cups Milk
  • 1 cup Boiling Water
  • FOR THE FROSTING:
  • 1 Pound Salted Grass-fed Butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons Vanilla
  • 1½ teaspoons Cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper(ground)
  • 1 Pound Powdered Sugar
  • FOR THE GANACHE:
  • 1 cup Dark Chocolate Chips(I used 60%)
  • ¾ cup Heavy Cream
  • TOP WITH:
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Cinnamon Sticks
  • Mini Pinecones
  • Meringue Mushrooms
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
  • ½ cup Boiling Water
Instructions
  1. FOR THE CAKE:
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 8 inch round baking pans. Line the bottoms of each pan with a circle of parchment paper.
  3. Place the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and espresso powder in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
  4. Add the egg, oil, milk, vanilla, and water to the dry ingredients and whisk in just until smooth. Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until puffed and firm on top and a tester inserted into the middle comes out mostly clean, with a few moist crumbs attached.
  5. Remove and let cool for 5 minutes in the pan. Remove cake layers from pans and let cool completely before frosting.
  6. FOR THE FROSTING:
  7. Place the butter in a large bowl along with the vanilla, cinnamon, and cayenne. Beat with an electric mixer until well combined. Beat on low, adding the powdered sugar a few tablespoons at a time, until all of the sugar has been whipped in. Scrape the bowl down, turn the speed up to medium, and beat the frosting for another 30 seconds.
  8. FOR THE GANACHE:
  9. Place the chocolate and cream in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat. Whisk together as the chocolate melts, until a smooth mixture forms. Remove from heat.
  10. TO ASSEMBLE:
  11. Frost the cake using the spiced frosting. Pour the ganache over the top of the cake spread just to the edges of the top of the cake. Chill until ganache is set.
  12. Dust the cake with powdered sugar and top with cinnamon sticks, mushrooms, and greenery.
3.2.2925

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

Spiced Hot Chocolate Layer Cake

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Filed Under: Cakes, Chocolate, Desserts, Holidays, Seasonal/Winter

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Comments

  1. Jean says

    December 4, 2017 at 6:58 PM

    This cake is pure magic <{:)

    Reply
  2. Cleo says

    December 4, 2017 at 8:44 PM

    This cake is gorgeous. And if I may say, your photos are just beautiful! I almost get taken away by them and forget about the recipe …… almost, but not quite …… 😉

    Reply
  3. Pat says

    December 4, 2017 at 10:29 PM

    The photography and food styling are amazing. I loved the technique of frosting on the sides of the cake. I wondered how you did that. Beautiful!

    Reply
  4. Claire says

    December 7, 2017 at 6:04 AM

    This cake is beautiful!!!! I’m so going to make this for Christmas eve’s dessert xoxoxo

    Reply
    • Kayley says

      December 9, 2017 at 4:16 PM

      Thank you Claire!

      Reply
  5. Ella Frances says

    December 8, 2017 at 10:48 AM

    Stunning photos and cake! What did you shoot this with? Turned out great!

    Reply
    • Kayley says

      December 9, 2017 at 4:16 PM

      Thank you Ella! I used a canon 5d mark ll with a 50mm 1.4 lens 🙂

      Reply
  6. Nova says

    December 9, 2017 at 9:26 PM

    Howbdo you make the marbling effect with the frosting on the side of your cake?

    Reply
    • Kayley says

      December 11, 2017 at 8:09 AM

      The sides of the cake are frosted with the spiced frosting, then scraped for a naked cake look where the cake layers show through. Then I swiped little dollops of the ganache across the side and scraped the sides with a bench scraper to blend it in =)

      Reply
  7. wc says

    December 10, 2017 at 9:01 AM

    Stunning cake and photos. How did you get the look on the sides of the cake? It doesn’t appear to be just frosted with the spiced frosting as described in the assembly instructions.
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kayley says

      December 11, 2017 at 8:08 AM

      Thank you so much! The sides of the cake are frosted with the spiced frosting, then scraped for a naked cake look where the cake layers show through. Then I swiped little dollops of the ganache across the side and scraped the sides with a bench scraper to blend it in. That’s it!

      Reply
  8. Kelly says

    December 11, 2017 at 3:08 PM

    Did you use the ganache on the sides to achieve that effect?

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      December 11, 2017 at 3:09 PM

      Nevermind! Found where you already answered!

      Reply
  9. Jennifer cole Baker says

    January 3, 2018 at 2:59 PM

    Wow!!! Look at this mouthwatering cake!! I’m def. Going to make this soon!! Check out the Recipe!!

    Reply
    • Kayley says

      January 3, 2018 at 11:14 PM

      Thank you Jennifer!

      Reply
  10. Robin Brune says

    January 3, 2018 at 7:09 PM

    I don’t think I would have put actual mushrooms on the cake not my favorite but other than that this cake is awesome looking and I would definitely make for sure.

    Reply
    • Kayley says

      January 3, 2018 at 11:13 PM

      Thank you Robin! I wouldn’t put actual mushrooms on the cake either, yuck! Luckily, these are just made of meringue and chocolate =)

      Reply
  11. Traci Pape says

    January 4, 2018 at 12:41 AM

    Looks delicious! Gotta try this recipe.

    Reply
  12. Elle says

    January 4, 2018 at 9:09 AM

    What a stunning cake! I would almost feel bad in eating such a beautiful peice of art… Almost!

    Reply
  13. Susan Estes says

    January 4, 2018 at 10:01 AM

    looks so decadent, im goibg to have to give it a try

    Reply
  14. Teresa Tinsley says

    January 4, 2018 at 1:30 PM

    Looks delicious

    Reply
  15. Paige says

    January 4, 2018 at 8:19 PM

    Looks so delicious!

    Reply
  16. Lejla says

    January 5, 2018 at 7:25 AM

    Thank you for this recipe. It looks so good, that I’ve decided to make it for my birthday next weekend
    But, I’ll make it using 24 cm tins and I wonder how to adjust the measurements
    Thanks!

    Reply
  17. Wayne F says

    January 5, 2018 at 10:14 AM

    OK, now off to the kitchen I go in hope of making something great like that!!!

    Reply
  18. Kaela says

    January 6, 2018 at 11:53 AM

    Can’t wait to try this beautiful. Cake!

    Reply
  19. Connie Huddleston says

    January 6, 2018 at 2:32 PM

    I was looking through the photos at Crowdtap and I was wondering if you were an artist it sure looks like it
    everything looks to pretty to eat .

    Reply
  20. Michelle Goldsboro says

    January 6, 2018 at 5:07 PM

    …OMG my pallet is so ready to taste this wonderful looking cake!

    Reply
  21. Pamela Brannon says

    January 7, 2018 at 6:28 AM

    This recipe seems to be self explaining ,So my granddaughter and I are going to make this .It looks and sounds Delicious .

    Reply
  22. NANCY RODNEY says

    January 7, 2018 at 6:28 AM

    This cake is a little work of art.

    Reply
  23. Rebecca Moore says

    January 7, 2018 at 12:11 PM

    Looks absolutely phenomenal!!!!

    Reply
  24. Anna Speaks says

    January 7, 2018 at 1:03 PM

    It looks beautiful and de delicious.

    Reply
  25. Scarlett says

    January 8, 2018 at 3:44 PM

    Yummy!!’

    Reply
  26. Carol Kuschill says

    January 9, 2018 at 2:25 PM

    Zumbo on Australia’s TV show, “Jest Desserts” would be thrilled to offer contestants a chance to have this cake featured on his show.

    Reply
  27. sharon kingsley says

    January 9, 2018 at 5:49 PM

    I want a slice now, please

    Reply
  28. Kristy says

    January 10, 2018 at 2:56 AM

    It looks too beautiful to eat!!

    Reply
  29. Lois Wears says

    January 10, 2018 at 10:08 PM

    looks delicious and chocolately goodness.

    Reply
  30. Debbie Rose says

    January 13, 2018 at 6:24 PM

    This cake is delicious.looks as good as it tastes

    Reply
  31. Misty says

    January 13, 2018 at 11:31 PM

    Looks and sounds delicious!!

    Reply
  32. Carol Yates says

    January 14, 2018 at 6:32 PM

    Looks delicious! Simply a beautiful display!

    Reply
  33. Amy Windsor says

    January 15, 2018 at 2:04 PM

    That cake looks absolutely amazing and I bet it tastes just as amazing as it looks

    Reply
  34. Hope Carpintino says

    January 16, 2018 at 8:27 PM

    Looks Devine, can’t wait to try and make this.

    Reply
  35. Hope Carpintino says

    January 17, 2018 at 9:38 AM

    Looks wonderful except the mushrooms. I don’t understand the mushrooms. Otherwise it looks wonderful.

    Reply
    • Kayley says

      January 17, 2018 at 9:17 PM

      Thanks Hope! The mushrooms are made of meringue and chocolate- like a little cookies

      Reply
  36. Katherine Martin says

    January 19, 2018 at 1:04 PM

    Thank you so much for sharing this recipe Kayley! I made it for my coworker’s 40th birthday and she was absolutely elated to receive it. A few others in the office said it was the best cake they’d ever had.

    Reply
  37. Lea says

    February 11, 2018 at 5:31 PM

    Well of course you cake and photos are delish and gorgeous as always! But the best part is the cutie pie in Mommy’s arms as she places the last few touches on the cake. Precious!!!

    Reply

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My name is Kayley! Welcome To The Kitchen McCabe, a blog based on wholesome recipes, beautiful food and photography. More >>

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