Seven-Layer Chocolate Cake
Submitted by mdcoughlin
Showstopping seven-layer chocolate cake with tender sponge layers and rich butter-chocolate frosting. A classic European-style torte that’s all about thin layers and fudgy filling between each one.
YIELD
1 cakePREP
25 minCOOK
40 minREADY
1 hrsThis is the kind of cake that stops a room. Seven whisper-thin sponge layers, each one coated in a fudgy, butter-rich chocolate frosting that firms up just enough to hold the whole towering stack together.
The cake itself is a European-style sponge made with separated eggs beaten to peaks, folded with sifted cake flour. No butter in the batter means the layers bake up light and airy, letting that decadent chocolate frosting do all the heavy lifting.
The frosting is cooked on a double boiler with melted chocolate, eggs, sugar, and a full half pound of butter. It’s beaten until thick and spreadable. Between seven layers, you’re getting more frosting than cake in every bite, and that’s exactly the point.
Chef Tips
- Line your pans with parchment and grease the paper so layers release cleanly
- Divide batter evenly by weight for uniform layers
- Beat the frosting until it’s stiff enough to spread without sliding off the thin layers
- Let each layer cool completely before frosting or the chocolate will melt and slide
Ingredients
Directions
Beat egg yokes until thick and lemon colored.
Add confectioners’ sugar gradually, beating constantly.
Sift flour and salt together and fold into yolk mixture.
Beat egg whites until stiff enough to hold a peak and fold in lightly.
Line seven-layer cake pans with paper and grease the paper.
Divide batter evenly among pans and bake in moderate oven for 12 minutes.
Remove from pans at once.
For the frosting, heat chocolate and water in the top of double boiler.
Mix eggs and sugar thoroughly, combine with melted chocolate and cook until thick, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat; add butter and beat until well blended.
Add vanilla and continue beating until filling is stiff enough to spread.
Cover each layer and top and sides of cake with filling.
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