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GRAY MALIN INSPIRED TRIPLE CHOCOLATE DIRT CAKE

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Author: Lindsay Nathanson

Ingredients
  

CHOCOLATE CAKE

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 cup coffee
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRT FILLING

  • 1/2 (5.1 oz) package Chocolate Fudge Jell-O Instant Pudding
  • 1 1/2 cups milk, cold
  • 1/2 cup crushed Oreos

CHOCOLATE FROSTING

  • 8 oz. dark chocolate
  • 1 7/8 sticks (15 tablespoons) unsalted butter
  • 1 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
  • 1 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 5 tablespoons hot water
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Instructions
 

For the cake:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F, grease three 8" cake pans (or four 6" pans) with non-stick spray and line with parchment.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix on low until dry ingredients are thoroughly combined.
  • On low speed add eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oil and vanilla.
  • Once everything is combined beat on medium speed for 1 minute.
  • Divide batter evenly between the three cake pans.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  • Transfer pans to wire rack and let cool completely.

For the filling:

  • In a medium bowl whisk together instant pudding and milk.
  • Whisk for 2 minutes and then set aside for 5 minutes to set up.

For the frosting:

  • In a double boiler or microwave, melt chocolate. Set aside to cool.
  • In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat butter until light and fluffy.
  • Add confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder and beat until smooth.
  • Add melted chocolate and vanilla and beat until smooth.
  • Add hot water 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat for a couple of minutes until the frosting is smooth and shiny.

Assembly

  • Once the cakes are cool, take them out of the pans, and place one layer onto a cake plate.
  • Fill a large pipping bag with frosting and make a ring around the edge of the cake.
  • Fill the inside of the ring with pudding and sprinkle 1/4 cup of crumbs on top.
  • Turn the second layer upside down (so the bottom is face up) and gently place it on top of the first layer. Make another buttercream ring, and spread pudding and Oreo crumbs.
  • Add the third layer (so the bottom is face up) on top.
  • Use the remaining frosting to cover the rest of the cake.

Notes

*Note: To make this cake look like a mountain covered with skiers, I covered the whole thing in a sky blue fondant and used Gray's image (printed on edible wafer paper) to make the snow covered mountains.
*One 8" Cake