Chocolate Strawberry Cake

Name: Chocolate Strawberry Cake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 16 servings
Ingredients: 1 package chocolate cake mix (regular size); 1 package (3.9 ounces) instant chocolate pudding mix; 4 large eggs, room temperature; 1 cup sour cream; 3/4 cup water; 1/4 cup canola oil; 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted; FROSTING:; 2 cups butter, softened; 4 cups confectioners' sugar; 3/4 cup baking cocoa; 1/2 cup 2% milk; GARNISHES:; 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped; 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream; 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled; Seedless strawberry jam, warmed, optional

Total Time Prep: 30 min. Bake: 30 min. + cooling

Yield 16 servings

Contest Winner

Test Kitchen Approved

Chocolate strawberry cake looks and tastes like luxury, but this recipe only takes one hour, from start to finish.

Ingredients

1 package chocolate cake mix (regular size)
1 package (3.9 ounces) instant chocolate pudding mix
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup canola oil
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted
FROSTING:
2 cups butter, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1/2 cup 2% milk
GARNISHES:
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled
Seedless strawberry jam, warmed, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine the first 7 ingredients; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Transfer to 2 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 28-32 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
In a large bowl, cream butter, confectioners' sugar and cocoa until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Beat in milk until smooth. Spread frosting between layers and over top and side of cake.
For ganache, place chocolate in a small bowl. Heat cream just to a boil; pour over chocolate and whisk until smooth. Drizzle over top of cake, allowing ganache to drape down the side. Arrange strawberries on top of cake. If desired, brush warm jam onto strawberries.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 666 calories, 40g fat (23g saturated fat), 120mg cholesterol, 485mg sodium, 69g carbohydrate (50g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein.

Although I have some wonderful from-scratch recipes, this one uses a boxed mix with plenty of doctoring. It has become a popular groom’s cake that gets more attention than the wedding cake. —Nora Fitzgerald, Sevierville, Tennessee

Recipe Creator