Chocolate Blackout Cake

Chocolate Blackout Cake

serves 10 to 12

Pudding:

1 3/4 cups granulated sugar

6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

2 cups half & half

1 cup whole milk

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cake:

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pans

1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for pans

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder

1 cup brewed coffee

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

FOR THE PUDDING

1. Cook the granulated sugar,, chocolate, half & half, milk, cornstarch and salt in a large saucepan over medium heat, whisking occassionally, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture begins to buble, 2 to 4 minutes. Stir in the vanilla. Transfer the pudding to a large bowl and refrigerate, with plastic wrap pressed flush against to surface, until cold and set, at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.

FOR THE CAKE

1. Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour two 8"inch cake pans. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the cocoa and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Off the heat, whisk in the coffee, buttermilk, and sugars until dissolved. Whisk in the flour mixture. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and smooth with a spatula.

2. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers come out clean, 30 to 35 mintes, rotating the cake pans halfway through baking. Cool the cakes in the pans for 15 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack. Cool the cakes to room temperature before frosting, at least 1 hour.

TO ASSEMBLE

1. Using a large serrated knife, slice each cake into 2 even layers. Crumble 1 cake layer into medium crumbs and set aside. Place 1 cake layer on a cake plate or cardboard round. Spread 1 cup of the pudding over the cake layer and top with another layer. Repeat with 1 cup more pudding and the last cake layer. Spread the remaining pudding evenly over the top and sides of the cake. Sprinkle the cake crumbs evenly over the top and sides of the cake, pressing lightly to adhere the crumbs. Slice and serve.

Where things can go wrong: make sure to give the pudding and the cake enough time to cool or you'll end up with runny pudding and gummy cake.

This cake was a huge hit at our recent Family Christmas Party but be warned it is very rich and SO fantastic!