Chocolate Strawberry Cake For A Valentine's Day To Remember- All Thing Crafts

Celebrating life's milestones deserves something truly special, and what could be sweeter than a Chocolate Strawberry Cake? This delightful confection combines the richness of chocolate with the freshness of strawberries, promising a taste that elevates your festivities to new heights. A piece of this delicious dessert on your plate means not just savouring a dessert but experiencing a moment of pure appreciation for the finer things in life.

Ingredients

Cake:

2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
⅓ cup oil (vegetable oil or sunflower oil)
½ cup yogurt
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup and 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
A pinch of salt

Chocolate Ganache:

160ml heavy cream
160g chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

Filling and Topping:

1 and ½ cups fresh strawberries
Fresh mint leaves

Instructions

Lightly oil two 6'' round springform cake pans, line their bottoms with parchment paper and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
Beat eggs and sugar with an electric mixer or a hand whisk until creamy.
Add in oil, yoghurt, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix well.
In another bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Pour the dry mixture into the wet mixture in two or three batches. Stir with a hand whisk just until combined. Don't over-mix!
Divide the batter between the two pans and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and let them cool in the pans for about 10 minutes. Then carefully remove them from the pans. Allow them to cool completely on a cooling rack.
Meanwhile, prepare the chocolate ganache: Put the chocolate chips in a bowl. Heat the heavy cream just until it boils, then pour it over the chocolate. Wait for 2 minutes, then stir until smooth. Let it reach room temperature.
Spread ¼ of the chocolate ganache on the first cake. Wait for about 10 minutes so that the ganache sets a bit.
Thinly slice ½ cup of strawberries lengthwise and place them on the chocolate ganache you spread on the first cake.
Carefully place the second cake on the strawberries, and gently press on it just to help it set.
Pour the rest of the ganache over it. Wait about 10 minutes and then place the rest of the strawberries as they are on the top.
Place a sprig of fresh mint on the very top.

Notes

If you think the mixture is not brown enough, you can add one or two extra tablespoons of cocoa powder.
This can be baked in one larger round cake tin or a loaf tin if you prefer. You can still drizzle the ganache over the top to make a one-layer chocolate cake.