Best 3 Semisweet Chocolate Layer Cake With Vanilla Cream Filling Recipes

SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE WITH VANILLA CREAM FILLING

Steps:

• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter three 8-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Line bottoms with parchment paper round; butter parchment. Place chocolate in metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water. Stir until melted and smooth.
• Whisk all purpose flour and next 4 ingredients in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat brown sugar, butter, and vanilla in large bowl to blend (mixture will be crumbly). Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in warm melted chocolate. Mix in dry ingredients in 2 additions alternately with buttermilk in 1 addition. Divide batter among prepared pans.
• Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 23 minutes. Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack; peel off parchment. Cool cakes completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap cakes in plastic and store at room temperature.)
• For cream filling:
• Place 2 tablespoons cold water in small bowl. Sprinkle unflavored gelatin over; let stand 10 minutes to soften.
• Bring 1/2 cup cream to boil in heavy small saucepan. Add hot cream mixture to softened gelatin; stir until dissolved. Place in refrigerator just until cold, whisking frequently, about 5 minutes.
• Place remaining 1 cup chilled cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat until peaks form. Add gelatin mixture and beat until peaks form.
• Place 1 cake on 8-inch cardboard round or tart pan bottom. Spread half of filling over. Top with second cake. Spread remaining filling over. Top with third cake. Chill on cardboard round 3 hours.
• For ganache:
• Bring cream and corn syrup to simmer in heavy small saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until smooth. Cool.
• Place cake on rack set in large rimmed baking sheet. Spread half of ganache over top and sides of cake. Chill cake 1 hour. Rewarm remaining ganache in small saucepan over low heat just until lukewarm, whisking often. Pour ganache over cold cake, spreading as needed to cover top and sides. Chill until ganache is set, about 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.)
• Cut out paper heart shapes of differing sizes and arrange atop cake. Sift powdered sugar over. Carefully lift hearts from cake. Serve immediately.

CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE GLAZE

Steps:

• For filling: Bring milk to simmer in heavy medium saucepan.
• Remove from heat.
• Combine sugar and cornstarch in large bowl.
• Beat egg yolks into sugar mixture.
• Gradually whisk hot milk into yolk mixture.
• Return mixture to saucepan.
• Whisk over medium heat until mixture boils and thickens, about 1 minute.
• Remove from heat; add chocolate, butter and vanilla and whisk until mixture is smooth.
• Transfer filling to medium bowl.
• Cool, stirring occasionally.
• Gently press plastic wrap directly onto surface of filling; cover and chill until cold, at least 3 hours.
• For cake: Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Butter 17 1/4 x 11 1/2 x 1-inch jelly roll pan.
• Line pan with parchment paper.
• Sift first 6 ingredients into large bowl.
• Whisk coffee, buttermilk, oil, eggs and vanilla in medium bowl.
• Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients; mix just until combined.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan, spreading evenly.
• Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
• Cool cake completely in pan on rack.
• Using small knife, cut around edges of pan.
• Turn cake out onto work surface.
• Peel off parchment.
• Trim tough edges.
• Cut cake crosswise into three 5x10 1/2-inch pieces.
• (Filling and cake can be made ahead. Keep filling refrigerated up to 2 days. Wrap cake layers in plastic and refrigerate up to 1 day.) Place 1 cake layer on platter.
• Spread half of filling over top.
• Top with second cake layer.
• Spread remaining filling over.
• Top with third cake layer.
• Pour lukewarm glaze over top and sides of cake, covering completely.
• Smooth sides with spatula.
• Refrigerate 2 hours.
• (Can be prepared 1 day ahead; cover and keep refrigerated.).
• Chocolate Glaze (Makes 3 cups): Bring cream to simmer in large saucepan over low heat.
• Add chocolate, whisk until smooth.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in corn syrup.
• Cool glaze until barely lukewarm.

THREE-LAYER CHOCOLATE GANACHE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of 3 greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa and baking soda. Beat in mayonnaise, coffee and vanilla. Transfer batter to prepared pans. Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely., For filling, in a small heavy saucepan, mix sugar and cornstarch. Whisk in milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat to low; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Cool completely. In a large bowl, cream butter. Gradually beat in cooled mixture. Stir in chocolate chips., For ganache, place chocolate in a large bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; let stand 5 minutes. Stir with a whisk until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Refrigerate, covered, until cold. Beat ganache just until soft peaks form, 15-30 seconds (do not overbeat)., Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with half of the filling. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake with ganache. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate, cream and butter. Microwave at 50% power for 1-2 minutes or until smooth, stirring twice. Cool slightly, stirring occasionally. Drizzle over cake, allowing some to flow over sides. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.