Farmhouse Holidays Double Chocolate Praline-Fudge Cake

Submitted by Debber

"Snowflakes drifting by the frosty windows, but inside we're listening to Christmas carols and decorating cut-out cookies. Dad comes and stomps the snow from his boots. Christmas Saturday, and we're ready for a piece of this special fudgy cake to load up our plates, with a glass of icy milk alongside. COOKING TIME includes chilling the cake. Thanks to Gooseberry Patch for another excellent recipe."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 50mins
• Ingredients: 19
• Yields: 1 holiday cake
• Serves: 12-16

ingredients

• Cake

• 236.59 ml butter
• 59.14 ml baking cocoa
• 236.59 ml water
• 118.29 ml milk (or buttermilk)
• 2 eggs
• 4.92 ml baking soda
• 4.92 ml vanilla
• 473.18 ml sugar
• 473.18 ml flour
• 2.46 ml salt

• Chocolate Ganache

• 473.18 ml semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 78.78 ml whipping cream
• 59.14 ml butter, cut into pieces

• Praline Frosting

• 59.14 ml butter
• 236.59 ml brown sugar, packed
• 78.78 ml whipping cream
• 236.59 ml powdered sugar
• 4.92 ml vanilla
• 236.59 ml chopped pecans, toasted

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350; grease three 8- or 9-inch ROUND cake pans; line with wax paper; set aside.
2. CAKE --
3. Cook butter, cocoa, water in a saucepan over low heat; stirring constantly, until butter melts and it's all smooth; remove from heat; cool.
4. In a mixing bowl, combine milk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla at medium speed until smooth.
5. Add butter mixture to milk mixture, blending to smooth.
6. In another bowl, combine sugar, flour and salt; gradually add to milk-butter mixture, blending until smooth--batter will be THIN (good, 'cause when we eat this -- we won't!) heeheh!
7. Pour batter into prepared pans; bake for 22-24 minutes (set).
8. Cool cakes on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove from pans, cool layers completely.
9. GANACHE --
10. Microwave chips and cream in a glass bowl 2-3 minutes until melted.
11. Whisk until smooth; gradually add butter, continuing to whisk away the lumps.
12. Cool--whisking every 15-20 minutes--until of spreading consistency.
13. Makes about 2 cups.
14. FROSTING --
15. Bring butter, brown sugar and whipping cream to a boil over medium heat, stirring often, boil ONE MINUTE; remove from heat.
16. Whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth; add toasted pecans, stirring gently for 2-5 minutes until frosting begins to cool (no snitchin' in the kitchen!), and thickens slightly.
17. Immediately---pour over cake.
18. Makes nearly 2 cups.
19. FINISH THE CAKE --
20. Spread about 1/2-cup ganach between cake layers; spread remainder on sides of cake ONLY (NOT THE TOP!).
21. Chill cake for 1/2 hour.
22. Pour Praline Frosting SLOWING over the top, spreading to the edges, allowing some to dribble over the sides.
23. Freeze if desired--thaw at room temp 4-6 hours.

Reviews

[I_love2nurse in Can]

I made this cake for a family reunion and love the taste and look of it. This cake is very rich so I prefer eating small potions. It's perfect for a special occasion.