Chocolate Cake Recipe | Strawberry & Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (2024)

A moist and delicious strawberry and chocolate cake recipe with a decadent chocolate frosting. This chocolate layer cake is perfect for all celebrations!

Today, dear readers, you will thank me for sharing the best (THE BEST!) chocolate cake recipe in existence- the last chocolate layer cake recipe you will ever need. Let’s not argue over who’s chocolate cake is best, or what bakery makes the best chocolate cake, or who’s mom, aunt, or grandma has the best chocolate cake recipe known to mankind, or better yet- which famous company has the most delicious chocolate cake mix you’ve whipped together (we’ll talk about boxed cake mixes in another post).

Argument is not needed after taking a bite out of this cake. I promise!

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Once the first piece of this chocolate cake hits your taste buds, you will have some sort of unexplainable religious experience- yes, all because of this strawberry & chocolate layer cake recipe.

You see, my birthday was on Friday, and I needed an excuse to post a cake recipe- I know, I just used my birthday as a very relevant excuse to post a cake recipe. Sue me! Oh and before we all go nutzo over me making my own birthday cake- I promise you, I did not make my own birthday cake- A couple of cakes were actually made for me, and honestly, they couldn’t even top this recipe. Why? Because the cakes (with the exception of one) did not have a beautiful, moist crumb that would make any cake lover (hell, any baker, as well!) swoon.

You know something? There is nothing worse in the world than dry cake. It makes my inner baker shudder to the nth degree. Dry cake makes me want to cry. Dry cake makes things that you are looking to cheer up with cake, even worse! Take my word on it!

Chocolate Cake Recipe | Strawberry & Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (3)

I think some new bakeries (not all of them!) have been plagued with the thought that everyone is looking to enjoy beautiful, elaborately designed layer cakes- cakes that are almost inedible because they are covered with unnecessary amounts of horrid tasting fondant. Bakeries- I don’t care how beautiful your cake is, how amazing that fondant is making the edges of the cake look breathtakingly clean, if your cake tastes like you replaced the flour with sand, I wouldn’t be a happy camper. Some people might, but that’s because they’re letting the look of the cake get to them!

I’d rather much have a not-so-breathtakingly-clean looking cake, and have it be the most delicious cake on the planet.

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This chocolate strawberry layer cake, will do just what some other cakes don’t do- it will make you dance until you drop! It will make your taste buds sing until they can’t! It will make you want to kiss the nearest person to you (or your cat)! It will . . . I don’t know what else it will do, but it will definitely do this: it will make you happy!

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And trust me on this, you’ll get a lot of happiness out of this recipe! Layers of strawberry jam, smooshed down by ever-so-moist layers of chocolate cake, and a healthy helping of frosting spread on the cake will make anyone smile- no matter on what occasion it is. I have seen people in the biggest depression go back into a state of happiness because of this cake.

So, enough of my bragging about how amazing this cake is- I’ll let you get to baking.

Chocolate Cake Recipe | Strawberry & Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (6)

Yield: Makes One 3-Layer Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Cake Recipe | Strawberry & Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (7)

A moist and delicious strawberry and chocolate cake recipe with a decadent chocolate frosting. This chocolate layer cake is perfect for all celebrations and makes enough for a large crowd (it makes a 3-layer cake). It comes together rather simply; it's up to you to go all-out with the chocolate or add in some strawberry jam (I use this homemade strawberry jam; recipe below).

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time20 minutes

Additional Time1 hour

Total Time1 hour 35 minutes

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 1 ¾ cups / 210 g all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups / 400 g granulated sugar
  • ¾ cups/ 60 g unsweetened cocoa powder (natural)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup / 240 ml buttermilk (can use light)
  • ½ cup / 120 ml vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup / 240 ml boiling water

For the Filling:

  • 1 cup strawberry jam (I used homemade; recipe follows)

For the Frosting:

  • 1 ½ sticks / 3/4 cup / 170 g unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup / 80 g unsweetened cocoa powder (natural)
  • ⅓ cup plus 2 tablespoons / 190 ml milk
  • 4 ½ cups / 460 g powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons light corn syrup

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Butter the bottoms and sides of three 8-inch round cake pans. Line the bottom of each pan with a round piece of parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract.
  4. Add the egg mixture into the flour mixture; beat on medium speed for one minute (or combine by hand to prevent over-mixing). Whisk in the boiling water (the batter will become thin). Pour into prepared pans.
  5. Bake 17-22 minutes, or until a cake tester (or a wooden toothpick) inserted into the center of each cake, comes out clean.
  6. Once the cakes are out of the oven, with a [dry] clean oven mitt (preferably a cloth one), gently press down onto the cakes, to make them level (this will allow you to skip a whole step in trimming the cakes).
  7. Cool cakes for 15 minutes in the freezer. Meanwhile, make the frosting: In a large bowl (or in a stand mixer), combine the melted butter and cocoa powder powder. Alternatively mix in the milk and powdered sugar, beating (on medium speed) to spreading consistency. Add a tablespoon of milk, if needed. Mix in vanilla and light corn syrup.
  8. Remove cakes from pans, and place on wire racks.
  9. Place one cake on a cake stand (bottom side up) and spread half of the strawberry jam, being sure not to spread to the edges of the cake. Place the second cake on top of the first (bottom side up), and spread the remaining half of the jam onto the cake. Place the third cake on top (bottom side up).
  10. Place the cake in the freezer for 10 minutes (this will make frosting the cake much easier).
  11. Using an off-set spatula, spread a thin layer of frosting over the top and sides of the layer cake. Let the frosting set in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes; then, spread a thick coat over the base coat.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1 slice

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 304Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 229mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 1gSugar: 36gProtein: 3g


Yield: Makes about 1 Cup

Strawberry Jam Recipe

Chocolate Cake Recipe | Strawberry & Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (8)

Strawberry Jam, like most berry jams are easy to make and offer so much satisfaction. Add the juice of one medium-sized lemon or the juice of half an orange to the strawberry mixture before cooking the jam. This will add a nice bright, citrusy flavor to the strawberry jam. This jam keeps, stored in an artight container in the refrigerator, for up to 2 weeks and can be made ahead of time if you're making it for baked goods like Strawberry Cheesecake.

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time20 minutes

Additional Time1 hour

Total Time1 hour 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb / 455 g fresh strawberries
  • 1 cup / 200 g granulated sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon cold salted butter, cut into small cubes

Instructions

  1. Put a couple of small plates in the freezer. Wash, hull, and halve the strawberries.
  2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the strawberries and sugar, boil for 20–25 minutes, until thickened. To check if the jam is set, remove one chilled plate from the freezer and spoon a small dab of the mixture onto it. Give the jam about 30 seconds, and push it with your finger. If it wrinkles, it’s set and done; if it moves about on the plate, it needs to be boiled a bit longer before you test it on the other plate. You’ll also know the jam is done when it reaches 210º F/ 100ºC on a candy thermometer.
  3. When the jam is set and done, remove it from the heat and stir in the butter. Skim off any foam from the surface with a metal spoon, then pour the jam into clean, heat-safe containers or jars. Cool jam to room temperature before using. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

For Raspberry Jam: Decrease the amount of raspberries to 2 cups / 250 g, and add in 1 tablespoon of strained fresh orange juice and 1 tablespoon of finely grated orange zest to the berries when stirring them with the sugar. Do the same for Blackberry Jam, but simply increase the amount of sugar to 1½ cups / 300g.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1 tablespoon

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 64Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 6mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 1gSugar: 14gProtein: 0g

Chocolate Cake Recipe | Strawberry & Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a secret ingredient for cakes? ›

Vinegar is a secret ingredient that can make your cakes light and fluffy.” One of the great things about using vinegar in cakes is that it's versatile.

What do you put between two cake layers? ›

Filling: Filling is what goes between the cake layers. Cakes can be filled with frosting (like in this tutorial), mousse, ganache, whipped cream, fruit preserves, custard, and more. Frosting: Aside from being used as a filling, buttercream frosting is used to decorate the outside top and sides of the cake.

How long will chocolate cake last in the fridge? ›

How Long Does Chocolate Cake Last in the Fridge? A traditional chocolate cake made from scratch will stay fresh and soft in the fridge for about 2-3 days. If you use the pectin trick that I describe in this blog post, you can extend the shelf life of baked goods and they will last 5-7 days or longer!

Can you put strawberries in between cake layers? ›

If you are making something like a classic sponge cake or angel food cake with layers of whipped cream and strawberries, I would simply slice them and leave them raw. If you are filling a stacked and frosted cake, I would cook them down to a more jammy consistancy. You can puree it to make it smooth if desired.

What is the main ingredient that makes a cake moist? ›

One common ingredient swap that is known to help make cakes remarkably moist is using milk instead of water. Try switching out any water in your recipe for full-fat milk or buttermilk for a moist, decadent texture. Another ingredient that can enhance the moisture of your cake is mayonnaise.

Which 2 ingredients help the cake to rise? ›

Most cakes will call for a leavening agent like baking powder or baking soda. These create the bubbles you need for the cake to rise. If the flour you use is self-raising, it already has a leavening agent in it. Make sure your butter is room temperature, and beat the butter and sugar together until properly creamed.

How many boxes of cake do I need for a two layer cake? ›

One standard box of cake mix (approximately 15-19 oz.) will make two 9" layers.

How many boxes of cake mix do I need to make a two layer cake? ›

A standard box of cake mix is usually sufficient to make two layers, which you can stack on top of one another for a single cake. If you frosted them both separately, you'd have two cakes. If you used smaller pans (or cut the layers into pieces), you could get many more.

What Flavour goes well with chocolate cake? ›

5 Chocolate Cake Filling and Toppings Ideas
  • Raspberry. Raspberries pair so well with chocolate, it's no surprise that we recommend them as a filling and topping for your chocolate cake. ...
  • Lemon. If you prefer a more citrusy taste, then opt for lemons! ...
  • Vanilla buttercream. ...
  • Chocolate ganache.
Sep 19, 2022

Can you eat 2 week old chocolate cake? ›

Plain Cake (like unfrosted Moist Vanilla Cake): About 5-7 days in the fridge. Cake with Buttercream, Whipped Cream or Custard (like Moist Chocolate Cake with Fluffy Chocolate Frosting): 4 days, since dairy spoils quicker.

Can I leave chocolate cake out overnight? ›

In most cases, yes, leftover cake is perfectly safe to keep overnight [1]. Here's how long it typically lasts: Frosted cakes: These can stay at room temperature for up to 3-4 days if covered properly [3].

Is it OK to leave a cake uncovered in the fridge? ›

If you do refrigerate, wrap unfrosted cakes in plastic to protect them from absorbing any weird fridge smells and to protect them from drying out, and then unwrap it to warm up on the counter before serving. For frosted cakes, chill the cake uncovered for 15 minutes to harden the icing, then wrap it in plastic wrap.

How do you keep strawberries from getting soggy on cakes? ›

Strawberry slices soften, release moisture, and make the cake around them moist. The safest way to keep strawberry cakes from getting soggy is to keep your fresh strawberry slices separate from the cake.

How do you make strawberries look pretty on a cake? ›

Wash and cut the strawberries, then place them on top of the cake. To really make the strawberries pop and give them a glossy sheen, cover them with warm fruit preserves. Brush the preserves on the strawberries instead of drizzling them. It's more precise, and you're less likely to get the glaze on the frosting.

How do you keep strawberries from sweating on a cake? ›

The solution against cake getting soggy from fruit is to simply seal the cake layers against moisture. The traditional way is to glaze with apricot jam - you brush a very thin layer of melted apricot jam on the cake layer, and put the fruit on it after it has cooled.

What's a good secret ingredient? ›

These are some of the best ones.
  • " Tarragon. I use a tiny amount of it whenever I make fries, whether they're frozen or homemade. ...
  • " Adding some kind of sugar to savory dishes. ...
  • " Shallots. ...
  • " Instant mashed potatoes. ...
  • " Cardamom. ...
  • " Cayenne pepper. ...
  • " Salt alternatives. ...
  • " Cinnamon.
Jul 2, 2022

What is a good baking secret? ›

10 Baking Secrets You Need to Know
  • Have the right butter consistency. ...
  • Read the whole recipe beforehand. ...
  • Prep all the ingredients ahead of time. ...
  • Use an oven thermometer. ...
  • Keep that oven closed! ...
  • Don't skip chilling. ...
  • Try storing your cookies with bread. ...
  • Don't over mix the ingredients.
Sep 1, 2023

What is your best baking secret? ›

Combine ingredients as gently as possible without overmixing. Creamed butter and sugar should be pale and fluffy, never yellow and gritty. Butter temperature is a vital detail that should not be overlooked. Don't open the oven door until goods are done baking.

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