Chocolate Amaretto Cake

Submitted by CHRISSYG

"Whomever you serve this to will think you SLAVED but this is so easy and delicious!! This is an incredibly moist, intensely chocolate cake, perfect for chocoholics. Does not taste like a 'box' cake at all! The original recipe is from Bon Apetit magazine but I had read the reviews on epicuirious and made some of the suggested adjustments. Turns out perfect with very little effort!"

 

• Ready In: 40mins
• Ingredients: 14
• Serves: 12

ingredients

• vegetable oil cooking spray
• 1 (18 1/4 ounce) package devil's food cake mix
• 1 1⁄3 cups water
• 3 large eggs
• 1⁄2 cup vegetable oil
• 12 tablespoons amaretto liqueur (divided)
• 3⁄4 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (about 18 ounces)
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1⁄4 cup unsalted butter
• 1⁄4 cup whipping cream
• 1⁄3 cup sour cream
• 1 1⁄2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 1⁄2 cups slivered almonds, toasted

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F Spray three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides with nonstick spray. Then line the bottoms with parchment paper.
2. Combine cake mix, 1 1/3 cups water, eggs, oil, 3 tablespoons amaretto, and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract in large bowl; whisk until well blended.
3. Toss 1 cup of chocolate chips in with 1 tablespoon flour, then gently fold into batter.
4. Divide batter among prepared pans. (the layers will be thin).
5. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes.
6. Run knife around pan sides. Turn cakes out onto racks; cool completely. Brush each cake layer with 2 tablespoons amaretto.
7. Combine butter and cream in medium saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until butter melts and mixture comes to simmer.
8. Remove from heat. Add remaining 2 cups chocolate chips and whisk until melted.
9. Mix in remaining 3 tablespoons amaretto. Cool until barely lukewarm, about 5 minutes.
10. Whisk in sour cream and remaining 1/4 teaspoon almond extract, then powdered sugar.
11. Refrigerate frosting just until thick enough to spread, whisking occasionally, about 10 minutes.
12. Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread 1/3 cup frosting over. Top with second cake layer. Spread 1/3 cup frosting over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. (concentrate most of the frosting on the top of the cake)
13. Press nuts around the sides of the cake. Chill at leat 2 hours.
14. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover with cake dome; keep chilled.).

Reviews

[Summers]

This cake is insanely good! I made it for the first time for a group of teenagers and cut back on the amount of amaretto that I brushed on the layers, but wish I hadn't. You really couldn't taste the alcohol. It was very moist and not as rich as you would imagine. I made it again last night, but made cupcakes instead of the cake. I suggest adding the chips individually to each cupcake after pouring into the pans to insure even distribution. Amazing recipe and so easy! Guest will think you got it from a bakery! Thanks for posting.

 

[Chelebelle]

This needs to be renamed "Death by Chocolate". I made this for a friends birthday and it was a huge hit. She didn't want to cut into it because it was so pretty. The flavor was great and it really was not difficult to make.

 

[nmj]

A great amaretto cake! I did not brush the cake with the amaretto as I did not have enough, but it was still excellent.

 

[Mom24munchkins]

This cake is amazing. I got many rave reviews. Keep in mind that it has a lot of alcohol, and a lot of that alcohol is not cooked so you should consider the age of whom you are serving this to and make sure no one is pregnant! I will make this again and again.