Spicy Chocolate Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What kind of frosting goes best with chocolate cake? ›

Chocolate Ganache is the simplest, easiest and quickest frosting you can make for chocolate cake.

Adding extra eggs when baking a cake brings out a lighter and richer flavor, making your dessert even more delicious! Baking tip #6: Adding a touch of vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon to be exact, is all it takes to make your box cake taste better, even homemade.

Yet, despite these 'wacky' differences, the cake is a delicious dessert. Why does wacky cake work? An eggless cake batter relies on the gluten structure of the flour and the lift provided by vinegar and baking soda.

Choose Swiss meringue Buttercream if you:

want to level up your cake decorating from traditional American buttercreams (the ones that use just butter/powdered sugar.) Most pro-decorators will likely use this for sharp, clean sides and detailed designs.

Most commercial bakeries are using a buttercream made with shortening rather than butter, because it is more stable, especially if it gets warm.

Milk (or coffee, or beer...)

If you aren't into milk, try swapping other liquids like juice (best with vanilla/yellow cake mixes), coffee or stout beer (especially for chocolate cake mixes) to add some extra flavor to your cake.

Consider using a pedestal stand for added height and drama. Make sure the surface is clean and free of any smudges or crumbs. Additionally, you can adorn the base of the cake with decorative elements such as edible pearls, gold leaf, or sugar flowers to create a visually appealing and luxurious look.

Peanut, almond and hazelnut are all great paired with darker chocolate and add a delicious texture dimension whether used in your cake sponge or topping. You can work coffee into all aspects of your chocolate cake - the sponge, buttercream, frosting and decoration.

Milk chocolate pairs well with caramel, honey, coconut, lavender, curry powder and asiago. Other foods that pair well with white chocolate include sea salt caramel, agave nectar, maple syrup, lemongrass and wasabi.

Why is it called depression cake? ›

Depression Cake, also known as Wacky Cake or War Cake (among other names), originated in the Great Depression. It is a cake made without milk, eggs, or butter. These were all ingredients that were hard to come by during the Great Depression and at wartime.

Rich chocolate cake coated in thick chocolate ganache.

Spread about 1 cup of frosting in an even layer, then place second layer on top, flat side up, pressing gently to adhere. Cover the entire cake with a thin layer of buttercream using an offset spatula. This “crumb coat” will seal in the cake crumbs and make the final layer of frosting easier.

Desserts with cream cheese frosting are some of the most decadent out there. From carrot cake to pumpkin bars to red velvet cake, these treats are absolute classics. So grab a few bricks of cream cheese, plenty of confectioners' sugar and get ready to bake!

If you're planning to serve your frosted cake or treat within 3 days of making it, you can store it, covered, at room temperature. Otherwise, decorated treats are best kept in the fridge.