Triple Decker Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• This recipe makes one 3 layer, 9 inch round cake

Cake

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
• 3 cups light brown sugar, packed
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups sifted cake flour
• 1 1/3 cups sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups hot coffee

Frosting

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
• 16 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature
• 8 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
• 1/2 cup cooled coffee
• 4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 6 cups confectioners sugar
• 2 cups fresh assorted berries (strawberries, blackberries, red currants)
• 1 tsp confectioners sugar (for dusting)

Directions

Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans.
2. Cut 3 circles of waxed paper or parchment paper to fit the bottoms of the pans, then press them in.
3. In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer), cream the butter until smooth.
4. Add the sugar and eggs and mix until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the vanilla, cocoa, baking soda and salt and mix. Add 1/2 of the flour, then 1/2 of the sour cream and mix.
5. Repeat with the remaining flour and sour cream. Drizzle in the hot coffee and mix until smooth.
6. The batter will be thin. Pour into the prepared pans and bake until the tops are firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
7. Halfway through the baking, quickly rotate the pans in the oven to ensure even baking, but otherwise try not to open the oven. Let cool in the pan 10 minutes.
8. Turn out onto wire racks and let cool completely before frosting.

Frosting

1. In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and cream cheese together until smooth.
2. Drizzle in the melted chocolate and mix. Add the coffee and vanilla and mix. Add the sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Mix until well blended and fluffy.
3. To frost the cake
4. Use a spatula to cover 2 of the cake layers with frosting. Stack them together.
5. Flip the third cake layer over and rest it on the top to create a very flat top for the cake. Frost the top.
6. Decorate with fresh berries, and a sprinkle of confectioners sugar.
7. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.