Strawberry Chocolate Cake (Printable)
Moist chocolate cake with fresh strawberries and rich ganache, perfect for celebrations.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chocolate Cake
01 - 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
04 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
05 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
06 - 1 teaspoon salt
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1 cup whole milk
09 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
10 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
11 - 1 cup boiling water
→ Strawberry Layer
12 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
13 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
14 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
→ Chocolate Ganache
15 - 1 cup heavy cream
16 - 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
→ Whipped Cream Topping
17 - 1 cup heavy whipping cream
18 - 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
19 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans, then line the bottoms with parchment paper for easy release.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until uniformly blended.
03 - Add the eggs, whole milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry mixture. Beat until fully combined. Gradually pour in the boiling water while mixing continuously until the batter is smooth and silky. The batter will appear quite thin — this is expected.
04 - Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of each layer comes out clean. Allow the cakes to rest in their pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto wire racks to cool completely.
05 - While the cakes bake, toss the sliced strawberries with granulated sugar and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Let the mixture sit for at least 20 minutes so the berries release their natural juices and develop a glossy syrup.
06 - Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan until it just begins to simmer — do not let it boil. Pour the hot cream over the chopped semisweet chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Let it stand undisturbed for 2 minutes, then stir gently from the center outward until the ganache is completely smooth and glossy. Allow it to cool until thickened but still pourable.
07 - In a chilled mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract using an electric mixer until soft, pillowy peaks form. Be careful not to over-whip.
08 - Place the first cake layer on a serving platter. Arrange a generous layer of the macerated strawberries over the top, reserving a handful for garnish. Drizzle half of the chocolate ganache over the strawberries. For added richness, spread an even layer of whipped cream on top.
09 - Carefully position the second cake layer on top. Pour the remaining ganache over the crown of the cake, allowing it to cascade naturally down the sides. Arrange the reserved strawberries on top as a vibrant garnish.
10 - Refrigerate the assembled cake for at least 1 hour to allow the layers and ganache to set firmly. Slice with a sharp knife and serve chilled.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The boiling water trick makes the chocolate cake impossibly moist, and people will assume you spent all day on it.
- Fresh strawberries macerated in lemon and sugar create a bright, jammy layer that cuts right through the richness of the ganache.
02 -
- Once I rushed the cooling and tried to assemble while the cake was still warm, and the ganache slid right off into a chocolate puddle on the platter, so patience is genuinely the most important ingredient here.
- Adding a thin layer of strawberry jam between the cake and the berries was a happy accident that happened because I ran out of fresh strawberries and needed to stretch what I had, and it was so good I sometimes do it on purpose now.
03 -
- The batter will look alarmingly thin when you add the boiling water, but that is exactly right, so do not be tempted to add more flour.
- Chilling the cake for a full hour before slicing is not optional because that is when the layers meld into something greater than the sum of their parts.