chocolate mess cake

inspired by this, i wanted to make a crazy,

outrageous, over the top chocolate cake.

i've renamed this beautiful creation a 'chocolate mess cake'

because, let's be honest, it's a chocolate mess.

you start with 2 round chocolate cakes...

(you can use any recipe you want)

i used the best loved chocolate cake recipe from BHG

(my go-to for basic recipes)

ingredients

3 eggs

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 cups sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 1/2 cups milk

directions

1. allow eggs & butter to stand at room temperature 30 minutes.

(best new thing i've learned in the kitchen - you need to let your eggs get to room temp!) 

preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. meanwhile, grease three 8x1-1/2-inch round cake pans. paper.

3. in medium bowl stir together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda,

baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; set aside.

 

4. in large mixing bowl beat butter with electric mixer on medium to high for 30 seconds.

gradually add sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, beating on medium until well combined.

scrape sides of bowl; 2 minutes more.

5. add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.

beat in vanilla.

6. alternately add flour mixture and milk to butter mixture,

beating on low after each addition just until combined.

beat on medium to high 20 seconds more.

stir in grated chocolate. divide batter among prepared pans.

7. bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near centers comes out clean.

cool cakes in pans on wire racks 10 minutes.

remove layers from pans. cool thoroughly on wire racks.

NEXT....

time for our frosting.... (from the original recipe)

ingredients

4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
1/3-1/2 cup whole milk

(start with 1/3 cup of milk and add more until desired consistency)
1 tsp. vanilla extract

directions

1. mix together until smooth :)

(add more milk if needed)

2. cover middle, top, and sides of cake with frosting

(no need to be too precise with this, it's all going to get covered up anyway!)

NOW.... for the MESS :)

let me say... there is no wrong way to do this...

basically, you just want to cover it with chocolate,

then drizzle more chocolate on top.

i covered the side of the cake with chocolate chips,

and arranged hershey kisses in rings on the top.

then i melted more chocolate chips in the microwave and just drizzled like crazy.

i did criss crosses on the top, and then made sure it drizzled down the sides.

and VOILA! a chocolate mess

(and you thought those only happened on accident! ha!)

(happy birthday kinsey!)

overall, i think this cake was a hit!

it was crazy chocolately...

just what some of you chocoholics have been waiting for :)

ENJOY!