Adventures in Cake

These pictures aren't the best but at least I got pictures. I was in such a hurry to get it out the door I completely forgot my camera so these were taken with Mike's phone. I made this cake to serve at a friend's son's baptism. The cake is magnificent! Four cake layers with chocolate pudding and strawberry cream filling all topped with a fluffy chocolate whipped topping. I could eat it everyday and lick the plate clean. It is not overpoweringly sweet however, it has a rich chocolate flavor. The cake is extremely moist and the strawberry filling adds a light freshness. Be forewarned, it is a beast to make so if you plan on undertaking don't do it lightly.

Serves: 16 servings
Start to Finish: 4 hours
Recipe By: Amber Brunson

Ingredients:

Chocolate Syrup:
3 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
4 1/2 cups sugar
3 cups hot water
dash of salt
2 TBSP vanilla extract

Cake Batter:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
4 eggs, at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups chocolate syrup (ingredients above)
1/2 cup water

Chocolate Filling:
1/3 cup flour
3 TBSP sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 3/4 cups 2% milk
1 cup chocolate syrup (ingredients above)
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 TBSP butter
1 tsp vanilla extract

Strawberry Filling:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
10 strawberries

Frosting:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup chocolate syrup (ingredients above)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Chocolate Syrup:
1. Combine cocoa, sugar, and salt in a saucepan.
2. Add water, and mix until smooth.
3. Bring this mixture to a boil. (Stirring constantly or it will burn.)
4. Allow it to boil for three minutes. (Stirring constantly or it will burn.)
5. Remove from heat, when it cools to room temperature, add the vanilla.

Cake Batter:
6. Preheat oven to 350°.
7. Grease and floured two 9-in. round baking pans.
8. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
9. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.
10. Stir in vanilla.
11. Combine dry ingredients
12. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture alternately with syrup and water.
13. Beat just until combined.
14. Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans.
15. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
16. Cool for 10 minutes in pans then remove from pans and cool on wire racks. (The second time I made this recipe I left the cakes in the pans to cool completely and them I couldn't get them back out of the pans without crumbling them up. I had to remake them. Lesson learned... don't let them cool completely in the pans.)

Chocolate Filling:
17. In a small saucepan, combine the flour, sugar and salt.
18. Stir in milk and syrup until smooth.
19. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
20. Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened.
21. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
22. When cooled sufficiently, stir a small amount of mixture into the egg.
23. Return all to the pan, stirring constantly.
24. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes.
25. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla. Cool to room temperature, stirring often.

Strawberry Filling:
26. Chop strawberries in blender until they are thick and liquidy.
27. Set strawberries aside.
28. Beat heavy whipping cream and vanilla until mixture starts to thicken.
29. Mix in sugar.
30. Fold in strawberries.

Chocolate Frosting:
31. In a bowl, beat frosting ingredients until stiff peaks form.

Cake Assembly:
32. Cut each cake in half horizontally.
33. Place one bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with half of the chocolate filling.
34. Place next cake layer on top and spread with the strawberry filling
35. Place next layer of cake on top and spread with remaining half of the chocolate filling.
36. Top with last cake layer cake.
37. Spread or pipe chocolate frosting over top and sides of cake.
38. Decorate and garnish cake. (Store in refrigerator until time to serve or the whipped frosting will melt.)