Chocolate Kahlua Cake with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients

Cake Ingredients:

• 3 Cup flour
• 3 Cup Sugar
• 1 1/2 Cup special dark chocolate cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup regular unsweetened cocoa
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 C sour cream
• 1 C buttermilk
• 1 C warm water
• 1/2 cup Kahlua
• 1/2 tsp espresso powder
• 1/2 C canola oil
• 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting ingredients:

• 2 C unsalted sweet cream butter softened
• 6 C powdered sugar
• 4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 C finely diced strawberries
• 5-7 TBSP heavy whipping cream
• Strawberries for topping
• 1 large piping bag fitted with star tip
• Large ice cream scooper

Chocolate Ganache Ingredients:

• 1 C semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 C heavy whipping cream
• 1 large squeeze bottle

Instructions

Frosting Directions:

1. Pat diced strawberries VERY dry with paper towels
2. Using a standing mixer, cream together the butter, vanilla, powdered sugar, diced strawberries and heavy whipping cream until combined and creamy and stiff with peaks
3. Beat frosting 2–3 minutes longer than you think on medium-high at the end
4. Scoop 1 C of frosting into the piping bag

Directions to build the cake

5. Place 1 layer of cake onto the cake board
6. Using the ice cream scooper, scoop out 4-6 scoops of frosting and smooth evenly on one layer of cake
7. Place another layer of cake on top and spread more frosting
8. Place the last layer on top and frost the remaining cake with remaining frosting

Chocolate ganache directions

9. Using a small pot, heat up the heavy whipping cream until steaming
10. While heavy whipping cream is heating up, place chocolate chips into a heat-proof bowl
11. Once the heavy whipping cream is heated, pour over the chocolate chips
12. Allow to sit for 1 minute before whisking until smooth
13. Pour ganache into the squeeze bottle
14. Pipe dollops of ganache over the edge of the cake
15. Pipe dollops of frosting onto the top of the cake
16. Place strawberries into the dollops of frosting
17. Cut and serve and enjoy