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Dark Chocolate Cake

Making a Tinkerbell Cake is an easy thing to do when you have a cake pan that is shaped like a flower. . .and the cake topper that is easily purchased this time of year in the card stores for Christmas tree decorations. It might be a good time to think ahead to the Birthday Parties you will be making cakes for .. .throughout the year. I simply used the Star Tip to make stars. . .and voila .. .a Tinkerbell cake. The inside is the important part. If I wanted a professional looking cake I would have purchased one but I wanted it to be moist. ..dark. . .and delicious.


My favourite Chocolate Cake is from the cookbook Eat, Shrink & Be Merry by Janet & Greta Podleski.  I've done a bit of tweaking in today's recipe.  You can find the original in their cookbook that I've used lots over the years.  


  • 3 ounces good quality chocolate (I use Callebaut Chocolate that I bought in the bulk section. It worked out to be a heaping 1/3 cup chopped chocolate)
  • 1 cup of strong brewed hot coffee
  • 3 cups white sugar
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 farm fresh eggs until thicken and lemon colored.
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 cup well-shaken buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • cocoa/coffee mixture
  1. Preheat the oven to 300
  2. Combine the chocolate and the coffee, stir well and allow to cool while you continue.
  3. Sift together, sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. 
  4. In another large bowl beat eggs with a stand or hand mixer. 
  5. Slowly, add the oil, buttermilk, vanilla and coffee/cocoa mixture. 
  6. Slowly add the sugar/flour mixture until combined.
  7. Divide the batter into 2 -10 inch or 3 - 9 inch pans that have been greased and the bottom lined with parchment paper.
  8. The baking time will depend on how many pans you have divided the batter into. 
  9. Test with a toothpick at 50 minutes and then every 5 minutes after. The toothpick should come out clean. . use a clean toothpick every time you test.

I used butter icing for the Tinkerbell cake, but for the adults. . I made chocolate ganache frosting.. .
Ganache Frosting
  • 1 pound Callebaut Chocolate or good quality chocolate
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons corn syrup
  • 1/4 unsalted butter.
  1. Finely chop the chocolate
  2. Bring the cream, sugar, corn syrup and butter to a simmer.. .stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
  3. Remove from heat and add the chocolate, stirring until smooth.
  4. Add the butter and continue to stir until smooth.
  5. Put it in the refrigerator, stirring occasionally until spreading consistency.

10 comments:

  1. That my friend,is a worthy post! Wow...what a lot of work and how beautiful!

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  2. I will be trying this recipe for those chocolate lovers in my family!
    What a gorgeous cake! You did an amazing job with decorating the cake Lovella!
    The little girl's eyes must have sparkled at the sight of it..

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  3. What a Grammie's love can create! It's beautful! I was wondering when you posted the cupcakes , if the cake would be coming later and we all appreciate the detailed explanations. Star tips and a little hockey player or whatever the year . . . that's how I did my kids cakes too. I only never thought of looking at the Christmas tree decor. Great Idea!

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  4. so much love went into that cake!
    i am sure that is what made it so sweet!
    that really looks lovely. the older she gets the more the grand babies will appreciate it!

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  5. Tinkerbell is precious! Makes me wish I had a birthday party planned! The dark chocolate sounds amazing! I'll have to look for that chocolate!

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  6. so my daughter loves tinkerbell and this cake is perfect. It's cute, elegant and simple!! i can create this. I was wondering where you got your cake pan from? As well as i see that thecake is pretty high is the cake pan that high? Do you lend out your cake pans.

    You can message me back on my blog or email me at johnandchristyj@hotmail.com

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  7. Made this cake for my daughters 3rd birthday castle cake:) It was SO GOOD!

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  8. This is an awesome recipe. I baked my cake less than written because I have a fussy oven. I highly recommend this recipe. Make it as is - no need for changes. It's that good.

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  9. I love that cake topper I was wondering where you have found that, I would love to use that for my daughters birthday.. Please e- mail me and let me know where I can find one like that... My e-mail is anthica47@hotmail.com thank you

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    Replies
    1. Hi there, I bought the cake topper several years ago as a Christmas tree ornament. I can't even remember now which brand it was. Keep your eyes open when the Christmas decorations come out.

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