Chocolate Cake Day ~ Chocolate Wasted Cake

It's National Chocolate Cake Day.  This pretty much sounds like the best holiday ever.  I mean, come on.  It's an excuse to bake and eat an entire some chocolate cake.

I spent last night making this cake for you.  Can I just tell you how hard it is to keep a two year old calm and collected when there's chocolate cake, candy bars, and chocolate chips floating around the counter.  A few samples here and there helped a lot.  I figured if I was going to make chocolate cake I would go all out.  Your basic chocolate cake wasn't going to cut it for me today.  I want you all to die and go to chocolate heaven.  I think this pretty much covers it.

I have to tell you, the cake itself is the best chocolate cake I've ever had.  It's moist and full of wonderful flavor.  I will definitely be adding it to my baking arsenal.

Chocolate Wasted Cake
from Art of Dessert
Rianne also has notes on her original post for allergy and vegan alternatives to the recipe

Ingredients:
Cake:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1 cup butter, melted
4 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract {I ran out of vanilla halfway through and added some almond extract}
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Frosting:
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
1/3 to 1/2 cup milk (start out with 1/3 cup of milk and add more until desired consistency is reached)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract {Substituted almond extract here. I can't believe I'm out of vanilla. Seriously.}

Liqueur for drizzling on the cake layer (ie. chocolate, coffee or almond) 
{I used Kahlua for my cake, but Frangelico would be really nice if you're adding in the almond extract.}

Semi-sweet chocolate chips for the sides of the cake.
Assorted chocolate candies for the top of the cake
{I used Milky Way and Snickers. I had a couple bags of the Fun size candy bars around from when I stocked up on clearance candy after Halloween.  I cut the candy bars into thirds for easy cake cutting later. I'm not being paid to mention these brands, they were just in my house already and we like them.}

Melted Chocolate for drizzling:
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 to 3 tablespoons heavy cream or vegetable oil
{Melt together over a double boiler until smooth}

To Make the Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Grease and dust two 8-inch or 9-inch cake pand with cocoa powder.  Set aside.
2. Into a medium bowl, sift together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine milk, butter, honey, and vanilla extract.  Slowly add the dry ingredients into the milk/butter mixture.  Mix until combined.  Fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips.  Pour the batter into prepared cake pans.  bake for 30 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. {My cake took closer to 50 minutes to cook.}
4. Remove from oven and wait at least 10 minutes to remove from cake pans and place on a cooling rack.  Allow to cool completely before decorating.  {I always have trouble getting my cakes out of the pan unless the bottom of the cake pan is completely cooled.  Proceed with caution.}

To make the Frosting:

1. In a large mixing bowl, sift together powdered sugar and cocoa powder.
2. Add the butter, milk, and vanilla extract.  Using an electric mixer, slowly mix together at a low speed.  Add additional milk as need to achieve desired consistency.
3. Once all the ingredients are combined, increased the speed and beat until fluffy.

Assemble the Cake:

1. Place the first cake layer on a plate or cake circle.  Lightly drizzle with liqueur.  Spread an even layer of frosting over the top of the layer.  Place the second cake layer on top of the frosting.  Lightly drizzle with liqueur.  Cover the sides and top of the cake with frosting.
2. Cover the sides of the cake with semi-sweet chocolate chips and cover the top with assorted chocolate candies.
3. Drizzle the melted chocolate all over the top of the cake and let it drip down the sides of the cake.

If that wasn't enough chocolaty goodness for you, here are some other mind blowing chocolate cake recipes for you to try today!

Chocolate Medusa Cake from i am baker

Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake from Miss Lemonie

Homemade Ding Dongs from Beantown Baker

Who said all cakes have to be super fancy.  Childhood throw-backs rock!

Chocolate Cake & Espresso Buttercream from My Baking Addiction

Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Cake and Perfectly Chocolate Frosting from Barbara Bakes

My Aunt Sue made Hershey's Chocolate Cake last time she was in town and it was super delicious.  No big shock with how great their candy bars are.

Chocolate Mashed Potato Cupcakes from Sprinkle Bakes

Veggies in your chocolate cake is okay.  I promise.  See.

and the best named chocolate cake award goes to...

Better Than Sex Cupcakes: Chocolate Times Five from Cupcake Project

Cupcake Project is quickly becoming one of my new favorite blogs.
Stef has the most interesting and wonderful cupcake combinations and is beginning to challenge some of my pre-conceived cupcake ideas, which I love.
You should really click on over and see what she has going on. 
I got my Chocolate Malt Nougat recipe from her site.