Salted Dark Chocolate Cake
4-6
1
hour15
minutesSuper dark and rich with perfect moistness, this cake is our new chocolate fix favorite. The ganache, located somewhere between pourable and whipped, will have your guests coming back for a second slice-we certainly did!
We made this cake on our podcast Smidgen, and while Anne got distracted and doused it in sprinkles, Cyprus Flake Salt is a crunchy, salty must for sprinkling atop this mountain of chocolate. Adapted from Scharffen Berger’s “That Chocolate Cake”
Ingredients
For the cake:
2 cups granulated sugar
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp Fleur de Sel
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp baking soda
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
½ cup Pecan Oil
1 cup whole milk
1 Tbl Pure Vanilla Extract
1 tsp Pure Chocolate Extract
1 cup boiling water
For the Frosting:
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup heavy cream
5 ounces 99% Cacao Unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
8 Tbl unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch pieces
1/4 tsp Fleur de Sel
1 tsp Pure Vanilla Puree
1 tsp Pure Chocolate Extract
Instructions
- First, make the frosting: In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and cream and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat and simmer for 6 mins. Add the chocolate and butter and stir until melted. Stir in the Fleur del Sel and extracts. Let the frosting cool, whisking gently from time to time taking care not to overwhip.
- For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray two 9-inch round cake pans nonstick baking spray and line the bottoms with parchment. Spray the parchment with nonstick baking spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, Fleur de Sel, baking powder and baking soda, mixing on low speed. Mix in the eggs, Pecan Oil, milk and extracts. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes.
- Reduce the speed to low and mix in the water. The batter will be soupy. Divide the batter evenly between the cake pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and cool on a cooling rack for 5 minutes, then turn the layers out onto the rack and cool completely. When the cakes have cooled, check the frosting. It should have the consistency of mayonnaise. If it is still too thin, allow it to cool longer.
- Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread the frosting with an offset spatula. Run the knife under hot tap water and dry with a towel from time to time to help with spreading the frosting. Spread about ¾ cup of the frosting over the top of the first layer.
- Top with the second layer. Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake.
- Lightly sprinkle the top with Cyprus Flake Salt for a hint of salt in every bite.
