Are you ready to embark on a delightful culinary journey, baking a chocolate cake that perfectly complements the lusciousness of cream cheese frosting? In this step-by-step guide, we’ll take you through the process of creating a mouthwatering chocolate cake with the creamiest cream cheese frosting you’ve ever tasted. From mixing batter to stacking layers and adding the finishing touches, we’ve got you covered.
Step 1: Bake the Chocolate Cake Layers
The foundation of any great cake is its layers. For this recipe, we’ll be making moist and tender chocolate cake layers that will have your taste buds dancing with joy. Here’s how to do it:
1.1. Gather Your Ingredients
Before we dive into the baking process, ensure you have all the ingredients for the cake layers ready. You’ll need flour, sugar, cocoa powder, buttermilk, eggs, and vegetable oil.
1.2. Mix the Dry and Wet Ingredients
In two separate bowls, whisk together your dry ingredients and wet ingredients. Then, slowly incorporate the dry mixture into the wet one, creating a velvety chocolate cake batter.
1.3. Divide and Bake
Divide the batter equally between your prepared cake pans, then pop them into the oven. Bake for 23-26 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
1.4. Cool and Prepare for Frosting
Let your cake layers cool in their pans for about 10 minutes. Then, gently loosen the edges and transfer them to wire racks for further cooling.
1.5. Optional Leveling
If you prefer perfectly even cake layers, wait until they’ve cooled to room temperature before leveling with a serrated knife. You can also freeze them at this stage if you’re baking ahead.
Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting
The yin to the chocolate cake’s yang, this creamy and tangy frosting will bring your cake to life. Here’s how to whip it up:
2.1. Gather Your Frosting Ingredients
For the cream cheese frosting, you’ll need cream cheese, unsalted butter, powdered sugar, and a dash of vanilla extract.
2.2. Mix and Adjust Consistency
In a bowl, blend the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, adjusting the consistency as needed. If it’s too thick, add cream; if it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar.
2.3. Cover to Prevent Crusting
To keep your frosting fresh, cover it with plastic wrap to prevent a crust from forming.
Step 3: Stack and Fill the Cake Layers
Now that your cake layers and cream cheese frosting are ready, it’s time to assemble your cake:
3.1. Chill the Cake Layers
For easier handling and reduced crumbiness, chill your cake layers in the freezer for about 20 minutes.
3.2. Stack and Frost
Begin by stacking your cake layers on a greaseproof cake board using a dab of cream cheese frosting to secure the bottom layer. Then, spread a thick, even layer of cream cheese frosting on top of each cake layer.
3.3. The Upside-Down Trick
For a more polished look, place the top cake layer upside down. This will give your cake a better shape with sharper edges.
Step 4: Crumb Coat the Cake
4.1. Frost Lightly
Spread a thin coat of cream cheese frosting around the entire cake to create a “crumb coat.”
4.2. Smooth and Chill
Use a large offset spatula to smooth the frosting, then chill the cake in the fridge for 10 minutes or the freezer for 5 minutes until the frosting is firm to the touch.
Step 5: Add the Second Layer of Frosting & Decorate
5.1. Frost Generously
Apply a thicker layer of cream cheese buttercream around the cake and use the back of a spoon or an offset spatula to create decorative swoops in the frosting.
5.2. Get Creative
Now, it’s your turn to let your creativity shine! Decorate your cake as you desire and get ready to enjoy your masterpiece.
Substitutions & Swaps: Chocolate Cake Layers
While our chocolate cake recipe is simply divine as is, here are some swaps and substitutions for those with specific preferences or dietary needs:
- All-Purpose Flour: You can use a good gluten-free flour blend if needed. Just be sure to stir the batter longer and let it sit for about 20 minutes before baking.
- Granulated Sugar: Avoid changing the sugar type or reducing the amount, as it affects the texture.
- Baking Cocoa: Experiment with different brands or use dark cocoa powder.
- Buttermilk: Substitute with full-fat yogurt, sour cream, whole milk, or alternative options like almond, soy, or oat milk.
- Vegetable Oil: Use any flavorless oil except for olive oil, as it has a strong flavor.
- Eggs: Those with egg allergies can try a vegan egg replacer.
Substitutions & Swaps: Cream Cheese Buttercream
If you need to make adjustments to the cream cheese buttercream, here are your options:
- Unsalted Butter: Use salted butter if it’s all you have and omit the extra salt in the recipe. You can also use vegan butter.
- Cream Cheese: Opt for full-fat cream cheese for the best results.
Making This Chocolate Cake in Different Sizes
Our recipe isn’t limited to 8″ cake pans. You can adapt it to various sizes and quantities:
- Four 7″ or 6″ Layers: Bake for 24-28 minutes.
- One 9×13-inch Sheet Cake: Bake for 25-35 minutes and use baking aids for even cooking.
For cupcakes, consider our chocolate cupcake recipe with half a batch of cream cheese buttercream – perfect for a dozen delightful treats!
Making this Chocolate Cake in Advance and Storage Tips
To make your baking journey even smoother, consider these tips:
- Prepare Cake Layers in Advance: Bake and freeze them to break up the process.
- Frosting Storage: Store leftover frosting in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month. It can also be frozen for up to three months.
Uncut, frosted cake can be refrigerated for up to five days, preserving its deliciousness.
Tips for Making the Best Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Here are some pro tips to ensure your chocolate cake is a masterpiece:
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Let your ingredients warm up, as they mix better.
- Properly Measure Your Ingredients: Use the correct measurements and consider a kitchen scale for precision.
- Equal Batter Distribution: Weigh your cake pans as you fill them to ensure even baking.
- Remove Air Bubbles: Give your filled cake pans a good tap on the counter to remove trapped air bubbles.
- Chill Your Cake Layers: Freezing them briefly makes stacking and frosting a breeze.
Let Us Know Your Thoughts!
If you decide to embark on this baking adventure and create our chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting, we’d love to hear about your experience. Please share your rating and leave a comment below. Don’t forget to tag us on social media @chelsweets and use #chelsweets to showcase your delightful creations!
Happy baking! 🍰