This Chocolate Strawberry Cake is easy to make and tastes simply amazing! Three layers of rich chocolate sponge sandwiched with strawberry mascarpone frosting and topped with chocolate ganache and fresh strawberries.
Prep Time20 minutesmins
Cook Time30 minutesmins
Total Time50 minutesmins
Course: Cake
Cuisine: English
Keyword: Chocolate Cake with Strawberry filling, Chocolate Strawberry Cake
Preheat the oven to 180C (350F). Grease and line three 20cm (8 inch) cake tins.
Put the flour, cocoa powder and sugar in large bowl. Add the baking powder and bicarbonate of soda and stir together to combine.
Add the butter, eggs and buttermilk. Start beating on the lowest speed setting until the ingredients start to come together. Increase the speed gradually, until the batter is completely smooth. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is incorporated.
Divide the batter between the cake pans and bake for 30-35 minutes. Check the cake is done by inserting a skewer in the centre - it should come out clean, the cake should be well risen golden and springy to the touch. Cool the cake completely before frosting.
Strawberry Frosting
Put the icing sugar, mascarpone, strawberry powder, vanilla in a mixing bowl. Add a little of the cream and start beating on lowest speed setting until ingredients have combined. Add the Amarula and gradually add remaining cream, increasing the mixing speed until frosting holds peaks.
Assemble the Cake
Pipe a ring of frosting around the edge of your bottom cake layer. Spread jam inside and then cover with another layer of frosting, spreading it gently to level. Repeat with the other two layers.
Smooth frosting over the entire cake until it is covered completely. Chill cake in the fridge.
Make the chocolate ganache
Combine the all the ingredients in a bowl and microwave for 40 seconds, stirring, until the chocolate has melted and the ganache is smooth. You can also do this over a double boiler if preferred. Allow the ganache to cool slightly.
Drizzle the ganache over the edge of the cake letting it drip down the sides. Spread the rest on top to cover cake.
Decorate the cake
Top your chocolate strawberry cake with sliced or whole fresh strawberries and sprinkle with chocolate shavings. You also have the option of piping some of the strawberry frosting on top of the cake if you like.
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Notes
Freeze dried strawberry powder will add intense strawberry flavour to your frosting. Remember to seal the package afterwards as moisture can ruin it! You can also use other freeze dried fruit powders if you like.
You can also use strawberry jam in the frosting instead of the powder, adding it a little at a time to avoid thinning the frosting too much.
Replace the strawberry jam in the layers with fresh sliced strawberries if you like.
This cake tastes best the day it is frosted and assembled but will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge.