Milk Chocolate Frosted Layer Cake

Total Time: 2 hrs Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 1/4 cups cake flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 6 large eggs, separated
• 1 cup sugar (divided by 1/2 cups)
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1 1/2 lbs milk chocolate, finely chopped
• shaved milk chocolate, for garnish (optional)

Recipe

• 1 preheat the oven to 325°.
• 2 butter and flour two 9" -square cake pans; set aside.
• 3 in a medium bowl, whisk the cake flour, cocoa and baking powder; set aside.
• 4 in a medium saucepan, melt the butter in the milk over low heat.
• 5 transfer to a large bowl and allow to cool slightly.
• 6 whisk in the egg yolks and 1/2 cup of the sugar.
• 7 add the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth; set aside.
• 8 in a clean bowl, beat the egg whites with the salt until soft peaks form. gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and beat at medium-high speed until the whites are stiff and glossy.
• 9 fold beaten egg whites into the batter until no streaks remain.
• 10 divide the batter between the two cake pans and bake for 25 minutes, or until the cakes are springy and a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean.
• 11 transfer the cakes to a rack and allow to cool completely.
• 12 while the cakes are cooling, in a medium saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a simmer.
• 13 put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and pour the hot cream on top.
• 14 allow to stand for 3 minutes, then whisk melted chocolate until smooth.
• 15 let the frosting stand at room temperature, stirring occasionally, until thick enough to spread, about 1 hour.
• 16 turn the cakes out of the pans and put one layer on a plate.
• 17 top with 1 cup of the frosting, spreading it to the edge.
• 18 top with the second layer and spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides.
• 19 let the cake stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes before cutting into squares.
• 20 serve and enjoy.