Buttermilk

Chocolate Devil's Food Cake With Vanilla Mascarpone Buttercream Frosting

April 19, 2017
3.3
3 Ratings
Photo by Oh Sweet Day!
  • Makes one 5-inch 6-layer cake
Author Notes

Chocolate devil's food cake with vanilla mascarpone buttercream frosting —Oh Sweet Day!

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Chocolate Devil's Food Cake
  • 1 1/2 cups cake flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup boiling water
  • 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temp
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk, room temp
  • 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • Mascarpone Buttercream Frosting
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 8 ounces mascarpone cheese
  • Chocolate Ganache
  • 100 grams dark chocolate, cut into chunks
  • 1/3 cup whipping cream
  • 10 fresh strawberries for garnish
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease three 5-inch round cake pans, and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  3. In another bowl, whisk the boiling water and cocoa powder until smooth.
  4. Beat butter and sugar together on medium speed in a bowl of a standing mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Beat in buttermilk and vanilla extract.
  5. Reduce the speed to low and beat in half of the flour mixture, followed by the chocolate mixture. Beat in the remaining flour mixture until just incorporated.
  6. Divide the batter and pour into the prepared pans, smoothing the surface with a spatula. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
  7. Place the cakes (in the pans) on a wire rack to cool. Then invert the cakes onto a greased rack. Cool completely. Then slice cake layers in half horizontally to make 6 cake layers.
  8. To prepare frosting, beat butter for a few minutes in a standing mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, turn mixer on low, beat until the sugar incorporates with the mixture. Then beat on medium speed for another 3 minutes, or until buttercream becomes light and fluffy. Add mascarpone cheese and beat on medium speed until combined, about a minute.
  9. To assemble the cake, place one cake layer on a serving plate, spread 1/4 cup frosting on top, then continue until the last cake layer is placed. Frost the cake top and sides with the remaining buttercream. Chill cake in refrigerator.
  10. To prepare ganache, place chocolate and heavy cream in a medium heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Stir the mixture using a wooden spoon until melted and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  11. Pour the ganache over the chilled cake. Use a spatula to quickly push the ganache over the edges of the cake and let it drip down to create the drip effect.
  12. Garnish with strawberries.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Miss_Karen
    Miss_Karen
  • Mary
    Mary

2 Reviews

Miss_Karen March 26, 2019
So, I don't have even (1 ) 5" pan...much less three. It's an odd size. What adjustment s are needed to bake this in 8" or 9" pans? Baking times?
Thanks!
 
Mary February 17, 2018
Three 5" cake pans are a stretch for most home bakers. I would guess if the recipe called for more standard size pans it might have some comments, as it looks like a great cake. I'm going to try the mascarpone buttercream, at least.