As someone who lives for dessert, it seems only fitting that my first post is about the most epic chocolate cake I’ve ever eaten! During the many (so many!) months I spent studying for the CPA test, I dreamed about all of the other things I could be doing with my time. I could be mountain biking, hiking at the beach, starting a blog, actually seeing my friends! But no, I was staying late at my office, again. Regardless, now we’re here! This ever-evolving blog is mostly going to follow my love of all things food (both at home and while abroad). I’m sure there will also be plenty of travel tales, with a bit of fitness, fun, and embarrassing stories thrown in. Who knows?!
Cake discoveries in Santiago, Chile:
This recipe is inspired by a chocolate cake I enjoyed with my friends in 2010 while studying abroad in Santiago, Chile. There were four of us sitting in a restaurant when a waitress walked by with the most incredible slice of cake I had ever seen. My friend Gina exclaimed “Oh My Gosh, LOOK AT THAT SLICE OF CAKE!!!” The three of us all turned around at the same time and proclaimed “Wow! Oh my gosh! It’s huge! Look at that!” As it turns out, it was for a businessman from Alabama who happened to be sitting at the table next to us. All four of us college students apparently have no shame whatsoever, because he looked at us and asked if we wanted some. (Side note, this chocolate cake was insanely rich and probably six times bigger than a normal slice of cake.) We immediately said “um, YES!” So, he cut his slice of cake in half and gave some to us.
We were completely blown away by the rich layers, gooey dulce de leche, dark chocolate ganache, thick and creamy peanut butter. Seriously, only a dessert goddess could’ve dreamed up this creation. Here’s a picture of the real thing:
The Original Cake, Pasta Basta Restaurant, Santiago, Chile 2010
Can you see everything that’s happening in that epic slice of chocolate cake!?!
And today:
It has been seven years and I still have not forgotten about this cake. I recently returned from a trip to Peru and Chile in October and brought dulce de leche home with me. So, when my CrossFit gym announced that our annual holiday party would involve a dessert contest, I knew exactly what I was going to make. This chocolate cake came in second place out of around 40 desserts and definitely got rave reviews!
How to make this epic cake:
Not only does this recipe involve the best homemade chocolate cake recipe around, but it also includes some over-the-top fillings.
The middle layer is a thick peanut butter filling. I used chunky peanut butter because it’s what I had, but also because I enjoyed the change of texture. This is basically a peanut butter filling that dreams are made of.
Peanut Butter Frosting
The first and third layers in the cake consisted of phenomenally good dulce de leche and cream cheese frosting that you see below. Just writing this post makes me want to dig a spoon into that frosting!
Dulce de Leche Frosting
Once the baked cake layers had cooled and the frostings were prepared, that’s when things got interesting. Time to assemble!
I cut my cake layers in half because I wanted there to be a high ratio of filling to cake. Indeed, when I eat cake, I’m mostly in it for the rich, delicious, and buttery fillings.
Stacking up the dulce de leche and peanut butter layers…
Dulce de leche, peanut butter, another dulce de leche layer…
The chances of me starting a career as a professional cake decorator are probably quite low, but I still enjoyed “attempting” to make this look like I had a clue about cake decorating. (For the record, I absolutely do not.)
Dark Chocolate Fudge Frosting
I used the extra supplies and made myself an outrageous cupcake. 🙂
One Mighty Cupcake
And finally, the finished product!
I topped it with alfajores, a traditional cookie that I brought home from Chile. Truly, this cake doesn’t need a topping. It speaks for itself.
Dark Chocolate Dulce de Leche and Peanut Butter Cake
I hope you went to the gym today.
Chocolate Cake
A delicious and moist dark chocolate cake!
Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup dutch processed cocoa
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup coffee, hot
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 3 8-inch (or 9-inch) round baking pans and set aside. I lined mine with parchment paper.
-
In a mixer bowl, sift 2 cups sugar, 1 3/4 cups flour, 3/4 cup cocoa powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt.
-
Add 2 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup oil and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Beat on low-medium speed until well incorporated (about 2 minutes). Add 1 cup coffee and stir until combined. The batter will be thin.
-
Transfer the batter into your prepared pans and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with minimal crumbs.
-
Cool in the pans for 10 minutes then on a wire rack to cool completely.
Recipe Notes
Adapted from this recipe.
Peanut Butter Frosting
Delicious, rich, decadent peanut butter filling. You could eat this straight out of the bowl.
This makes enough for one generous layer in a 9-inch cake.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter, softened
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
-
In the bowl of a mixer, beat butter until soft and fluffy. Add peanut butter and mix well. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, beating until well-incorporated.
Recipe Notes
If the peanut butter is really cold, it's best to warm it in the microwave slightly.
Dulce de Leche Cream Cheese Frosting
Rich, smooth, creamy, and just generally unreal.
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup dulce de leche
Instructions
-
In the bowl of a mixer, beat butter until soft and fluffy; add rest of ingredients and mix well. Beat until fluffy and well-incorporated.
Recipe Notes
This makes enough for two layers in a 9-inch cake.
Dark Chocolate Fudge Frosting
The richest, darkest, fudgiest frosting I've ever encountered.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cups unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 1/4 cup dutch processed cocoa powder, sifted
- 3 tbsp coffee, hot
- 2 tbsp sour cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 7 1/2 ounces dark chocolate, chopped, melted and slightly cooled
Instructions
-
Beat 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter on medium speed until light and creamy (about 5 minutes), scraping the bottom and sides of your bowl as you go.
-
Switch to low speed and add 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, 1/3 cup coffee, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon salt until combined (about a minute). Switch to medium speed and beat for another 2 minutes.
-
Add the melted chocolate and beat until smooth (about a minute).
Recipe Notes
Adapted from this recipe.
Leave a Reply