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May 6, 2013

Strawberry Chocolate Anniversary Cake

Strawberry Chocolate Anniversary Cake

You know how when people celebrate their one year anniversary, they are supposed to bring out the top of the cake from the freezer and share it with each other? I'm pretty sure that top tier cake ends up in the trash (well, maybe it is Instagrammed and then dumped in the trash).

Why not make a new little anniversary cake?

This little cake is baked in two 5 inch cake pans, perfectly sized for a first year anniversary celebration. I have made the chocolate cake many times, sometimes with chocolate, and sometimes with vanilla frosting. This time I wanted something a bit fresher to go with the Chocolate Party theme for this month, strawberries. Why not whipped cream? Strawberries and cream on a little devil's food cake.

Strawberry Chocolate Anniversary Cake

This cake is layered with a lightly sweetened whipped cream and a fresh strawberry reduction. It's light and seasonal. If you like, you can prepare the cake layers and the strawberry Cointreau reduction in advance. When you are ready to serve the cake, whip the cream and assemble the layers.

Strawberry Chocolate Anniversary Cake

This cake also is in celebration of the one year anniversary of my blog. Happy anniversary, happy anniversary, happy anniversary, haaaaa-ppy anniversary.

What especially touches my heart about this cake is that I have baked variations of it several times with my grandson. He decorates it with as many candies and sprinkles as he likes. I keep a large assortment on hand of course. You can't have too many sprinkles in life.



Strawberry Chocolate Anniversary Cake

Inspired by Zoe Bakes

Top Tier Devil's Food Cake

Adapted from epicurious

Ingredients

1/4 C natural unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ounce milk chocolate, chopped
1/4 C boiling water
1/4 C buttermilk (I used 1 T. buttermilk powder plus 2 ounces of water)
2/3 C cake flour (I used King Arthur Flour's unbleached cake flour blend)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 C dark brown sugar
1/4 C sugar
1/4 C oil
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
  2. Butter two 5 inch cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment. Butter the parchment. 
  3. Mix the cocoa powder and milk chocolate in a small bowl and pour the boiling water over it. Whisk to combine. Add the buttermilk. If using dried buttermilk, add 2 ounces of water. 
  4. Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk powder if using, together in a medium bowl. 
  5. In a large bowl, beat the sugars, oil, egg, and vanilla until thoroughly combined. Add the rest of the ingredients from the other two bowls and mix by hand. The batter will be liquid. 
  6. Divide the batter between the two pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with crumbs but no liquid batter. 
  7. Cool in the pans for 15 minutes, and then on a wire rack until completely cool. 

Whipped Cream


Ingredients

1 C whipping cream
1/8 C powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla

Instructions

Whip the cream, sugar, and vanilla to stiff peaks. 

Strawberry Filling


Ingredients

One basket of strawberries, sliced and chopped
1/4 C granulated sugar
1/8 C Cointreau
1 T cornstarch
Squeeze of lemon

Instructions

Place all of the ingredients into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the temperature to low and simmer, stirring, for about ten minutes. Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate if you are not assembling the cake immediately. 

To Assemble the Cake

Place one cake layer on a plate or cake stand. Spread the top generously with whipped cream and then top with the strawberry mixture. Place the second layer on top of the first, and repeat. Slice and eat.

Would you like to comment?

  1. Our one year cake was actually still amazing. Although I am all for having a fresh one too!

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    1. Wow, Emily, that's fantastic. Mine was cardboard =)

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  2. Your little anniversary is gorgeous, and I love the chocolate strawberry combo, especially with the strawberry reduction!

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  3. Congratulations on your one year anniversary, Karen! Your cake replete with Cointreau is fitting for the occasion =)
    Very much appreciate the recipe, too, because I've got an almost empty bottle of the liqueur.

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    1. Thank you. You need to finish that bottle so you can buy another one for margaritas! =)

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  4. Happy 1st anniversary!!! What a gorgeous cake!!! It is ideal to celebrate such an important date, Karen.

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  5. Such a gorgeous presentation! My family would be all over this cake!!! Your strawberry topping sounds scrumptious :)

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    1. Thanks Liz. It was actually my favorite part because there are so many fresh strawberries readily available right now.

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  6. Beautiful cake, I love that strawberry reduction!

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  7. Happy Blog Anniversary Karen! I loved your blog from the moment I found it and it's always a pleasure to read it!
    The cake is gorgeous! Would love a slice or two, or maybe the entire cake!

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    1. Thank you so much Roxana! This means a lot.

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  8. Karen....this sweet little cake certainly makes a stunning impact! It's gorgeous (and I bet delicious as well!) Happy anniversary....and here's to many more years of your wonderful posts.....and sprinkles, of course! : )

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    1. Thanks Anne =) I have an entire bin full of them for those little boys. They grow up too fast.

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  9. That is simply gorgeous.

    My husband and I adored our wedding cake and could not bear the idea of eating it freezer burnt and dried out. So we ate it just the 2 of us later that night (our wedding I mean). :D

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  10. Happy Anniversary!! Love that you fit this in with the chocolateparty - great cake!

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  11. One of my favorite cakes besides lemon is this! Happy anniversary and have another wonderful year full of delicious food and recipes.

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  12. Love this! So simple, yet so beautiful. Happy Happy Happy Blogiversary Karen! Looking forward to many, many, more posts from you. :)

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  13. I like how you've left the sides bare, I love this look on layered cakes.

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  14. Nice chocolate cake. Without cake any celebration looks incomplete. Celebrate every function by giving order of best cakes .

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  15. Chocolate and Strawberry goes so well together. I am all set for baking this cake. Thanks for the recipe.

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