Decadent Triple Chocolate Cake

Published Mar 15, 2014 · Updated Sep 27, 2023 by Miranda

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Three layers of decadent triple chocolate cake will make any chocolate lover happy. It's made of a moist, dark chocolate cake, filled with a milk chocolate ganache, and frosted with chocolate swiss meringue buttercream.

Decadent Triple Chocolate Cake

We have hit the one year mark for Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt. I cannot believe how much I have learned and still have to learn with this food blogging business. When I first started, I literally had no idea what I was getting myself into. I did, however, know that I loved baking and wanted to document and share everything I've done.

I've realized I need to work a bit harder at the social media aspect of blogging, but this baking and eating bit, I'm an expert at. One year ago today, I was knee-deep in trying desperately to figure out what to do after I purchased my hosting and domain. Not today though, because I'm knee deep in triple chocolate cake.

As you can see, we have three layers of chocolate. A moist, dark chocolate cake, milk chocolate ganache, and a chocolate swiss meringue buttercream. My favorite part of the cake is the milk chocolate ganache. Gooey, creamy, and milk freaking chocolate. It's heaven.

I had a cute purple birthday candle to go on top of my cake, but my toddler dropped it before it even had a chance. That's life with a little guy. There are a lot of casualties ..I mean "accidents" during a day's time. Like yesterday, I was in the sunroom trying to capture a good picture and I walk into the kitchen to see a line of salt leading into the living room and then into the bathroom. He was even nice enough to salt the dog's food. It happens.

I couldn't think of what kind of cake I wanted to make for this very special occasion. I wanted something so rich and decadent that you could possibly gain an extra chin just looking at it. I think I can safely say that I've outdone myself on this triple decadent chocolate cake. Loads of chocolate and calories.. check. An extra chin.. check! Yep, I'm giving myself a pat on the back.

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How to make a triple chocolate cake:

Triple Chocolate Cake

Author: Miranda Couse

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 45

Cook Time 30

Chill Time 3

Total Time 4 15

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings slices

Ingredients

Cake

¼ cup butter melted
½ cup vegetable oil
¾ cup Hershey's cocoa powder
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup full-fat sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs lightly beaten
1 ½ cups cake flour
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt

Ganache

3 cups milk chocolate chips
1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream

Buttercream

4 large egg whites
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup salted butter room temperature and cubed
½ cup shortening
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk chococlate ganache
6 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate or chocolate chips melted

Instructions

Ganache

In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and heavy cream. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir. Repeat microwaving in 30-second intervals and stirring after each interval until the ganache is smooth and completely melted. Place in the fridge for 2-3 hours to chill until the ganache firms up and is no longer a pourable consistency.

Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Place 9-inch parchment paper rounds in the bottom of each pan and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, add the butter, oil, and cocoa powder. Whisk until smooth.
Next, add the buttermilk, sour cream, vanilla extract, and beaten eggs to the bowl. Whisk until the eggs and sour cream are thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth.
In a large bowl, add the cake flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk until all of the dry ingredients are combined.
Pour the wet cocoa mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients. Whisk until everything is combined. Try to whisk out most of the lumps.
Divide the batter evenly into the two prepared cake pans. I wrapped my pans with Wilton's bake even cake strips.
Place in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until they're done. Place a toothpick in the center of the cake and if it comes out clean or with moist crumbs it's done.
Let the cake cool in the pan for about 15 minutes and then turn onto a cooling rack to finish cooling. Let the cakes cool upside down if they're really domed to help flatten them. The top layer may peel off as you flip it back over though.

Buttercream

In a double boiler, add the egg whites and granulated sugar. Place over medium/low heat and let the water in the bottom pan simmer while the egg whites reach 160 degrees F. Stir the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Once the egg whites hit 160 degrees F using a candy thermometer, pour the egg whites into a stand mixer bowl. Using a whisk attachment, whip on medium until the mixture cools to room temperature. Turn the mixer up to high and continue whipping until a meringue forms and has stiff peaks. You can test to see if it's at the stiff peak stage by turning the whisk upside down. If the meringue peak stands straight up, you've reached the stiff peak stage. If it slumps over, you need to whip it a little longer with the whisk attachment.
Switch the whisk attachment out for the paddle attachment. Add the shortening and butter all at once. Beat until it all comes together in a smooth, creamy frosting. It will thicken up at this point. If the mixture looks like it curdled, keep mixing. It will come back together.
Add the vanilla, 1 cup of the cooled milk chocolate ganache, and the 6 ounces of cooled, melted semi-sweet chocolate. Mix until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Continue to beat the frosting until any remaining bits are incorporated. The frosting should be thick and creamy. If it looks separated, keep mixing. If it appears to be too runny, place the bowl of frosting in the fridge to chill for about 20 minutes so the butter can firm up some. Once chilled, mix again with the paddle attachment until the frost thickens up.
Add about 1 cup of the frosting to a disposable piping bag fitted with the Wilton 1M piping tip.

Assembling the Cake

Using a cake knife or a cake level, cut the domes off both of the cakes. Make sure the cakes are about the same thickness.
Place the first cake layer cut side down on a cake plate or cake board.
Create a dam with the buttercream by piping the chocolate swiss meringue buttercream around the edge of the cake.
Scoop the remaining chilled ganache into the center of the cake and spread out evenly with an angled spatula all the way to the buttercream.
Add the second cake cut side down on top of the ganache. Gently press down so it's firmly sitting on top of the ganache and buttercream dam but don't press hard enough that all of the buttercream is pushed out. Use an angled spatula to smooth out any of the buttercream that hangs out the sides of the cake.
Scoop a pile of chocolate buttercream on top of the cake and begin making a smooth level top and work the extra frosting down the sides. Don't pick up your angled spatula straight off the cake because you'll have many crumbs. You'll need to pull so it doesn't create crumbs. Spread the buttercream over the cake until you have the desired effect.
Add any frosting that's left in the disposable piping bag and pipe swirls around the edge of the cake.
Store the cake in the fridge in a cake container.

(Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.)

Keyword chocolate cake recipe, chocolate swiss meringue buttercream

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