Description
If you’re looking for a rich, bakery-style dessert that feels straight out of a patisserie, Midnight Fudge Cake is your go-to. This easy recipe layers deep chocolate flavor with moist cake, creamy fudge filling, and glossy ganache. Perfect for holidays, birthdays, or just treating yourself to the best homemade chocolate cake. Keywords: easy cake recipe, chocolate layer cake, ganache cake, holiday dessert, fudge cake, chocolate fudge cake, dinner party dessert.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 tbsp espresso powder
1½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
8 oz dark chocolate (60-70%)
¾ cup heavy cream
1 tbsp corn syrup (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 325°F and prepare three 8-inch cake pans.
2. In one bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
3. In another bowl, combine sugar, oil, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla until smooth.
4. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet, then slowly stir in boiling water.
5. Divide the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 28–30 minutes.
6. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
7. To make the fudge filling, heat cream until simmering and pour over chocolate chips and butter. Let sit, then stir in vanilla. Chill until thickened.
8. Stack cake layers with thick layers of fudge filling in between. Chill to set.
9. Make ganache by pouring hot cream over dark chocolate. Add corn syrup for shine. Stir until smooth and cool slightly.
10. Pour ganache over cake, letting it drip down the sides. Smooth with spatula.
11. Chill the finished cake before slicing.
Notes
Chill the cake before slicing for defined, clean layers.
Dutch-process cocoa gives it that rich, deep flavor—don’t swap it.
Let ganache cool just slightly before pouring to prevent a runny finish.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th)
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 42g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 19g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: chocolate cake, ganache cake, holiday cake, fudge cake