Decadent Chocolate Layer Cake

Three layers of intensely chocolatey, moist sponge, sandwiched with dark chocolate ganache buttercream. This is the birthday cake that gets requested every year — rich without being heavy, and deeply satisfying.

Ingredients

• Cake: 300g all-purpose flour, 350g sugar, 80g cocoa powder, 2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt
• 3 eggs, 240ml buttermilk, 240ml strong hot coffee, 120ml vegetable oil, 2 tsp vanilla
• Frosting: 250g dark chocolate (70%), 400g unsalted butter (softened), 500g icing sugar, 4 tbsp cocoa powder, 4 tbsp heavy cream

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F. Grease and line three 20cm cake tins.
2. Whisk all dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
3. Whisk eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and mix. Stream in hot coffee while stirring — batter will be very thin.
4. Divide evenly between tins. Bake 30-35 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
5. Cool completely before frosting.
6. Make frosting: melt chocolate and cool to room temperature. Beat butter until pale. Add icing sugar and cocoa, beat until fluffy. Mix in melted chocolate and cream.
7. Stack layers with generous frosting between each. Coat the outside and decorate as desired.