Dark Chocolate Lovers Dream | Mount Doom Cake Recipe
Indulge in the ultimate chocolate experience with this Dark Chocolate Lovers Dream, also known as the Mount Doom Cake. This rich, moist chocolate cake features layers of deep cocoa flavor enhanced by a smooth, velvety dark chocolate ganache. Perfect for special occasions or any time you crave a decadent dessert, this cake combines a tender crumb with luscious frosting for a truly unforgettable treat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
Ganache Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups chopped dark chocolate
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow easy removal.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, whole milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Beat the mixture until it becomes smooth and homogeneous.
- Incorporate Boiling Water: Slowly pour the boiling water into the batter while mixing at low speed. The batter will become thin—that’s expected and key to a moist cake.
- Bake the Cake Layers: Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans and bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool the Cakes: Let the cakes cool in their pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely, ensuring they set perfectly without breaking.
- Prepare the Ganache: Heat the heavy cream until it just begins to simmer. Pour the hot cream over the chopped dark chocolate and let it sit for 5 minutes to melt the chocolate. Stir gently until the ganache becomes smooth and glossy. Chill slightly until it thickens enough to spread.
- Assemble the Cake: Stack the cooled cake layers, spreading the ganache generously between each layer. Then frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining ganache, creating a luscious, rich finish.
Notes
- Use Dutch-process cocoa powder for a richer chocolate flavor and deeper color.
- Ensure cakes are completely cool before applying ganache to prevent melting.
- The boiling water thins the batter but results in a moist, tender crumb.
- For best results, chop the dark chocolate finely to ensure smooth ganache.
- Store the cake refrigerated due to the ganache, and bring to room temperature before serving for optimal flavor.
Keywords: dark chocolate cake, chocolate cake recipe, chocolate ganache, Moist chocolate cake, fudge cake, rich chocolate dessert
