Devil's Food Cake with Peanut Butter Ganache and Chocolate Shards

I found this beautiful, chocolately cake online recently. As I was looking at it my eyes got big and a smile crept onto my face. I just had to try it!

Sometimes ambitious recipes get the better of me and turn out not so great. Somehow I found success with this one. The chocolate shards that decorate the cake gave me no trouble at all. My cake looks just like the original! And it really wasn't that hard!! The cake part is a simple cake recipe, and the ganache frosting is pretty basic too. So if you have any baking skills at all, I say try this one out and you'll most likely be successful as well. Then everyone will ooh and aah.

Since I don't know where to buy Biscoff, I used peanut butter as a substitute, as suggested in the recipe. So this ended up being a chocolate and peanut butter treat, one of my favorite combinations.

To me, nothing says love better than chocolate.

Devil’s Food Cake with Whipped Biscoff Ganache and Chocolate Shards
from Cafe Fernando

Yields one 8-inch, two-layer cake
Serves 8-10

For the Devil’s Food Cake
2/3 cup (150 grams) unsalted butter, plus more for pans
2/3 cup (50 grams) Dutch-process cocoa powder, plus more for pans
2/3 cup boiling water
1/3 cup whole milk, scalded
1 1/2 cups (210 grams) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup (300 grams) granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

For the Whipped Biscoff* Ganache
4.5 ounces (150 grams) bittersweet (70% cacao) chocolate, chopped
4.5 ounces (150 grams) milk (40% cacao) chocolate, chopped
one 14-ounce (400 grams) jar Biscoff spread*
1 2/3 cups (400 grams) heavy cream, cold
*Biscoff spread is made from spiced cookies, like gingersnaps. You can substitute peanut or hazelnut butter for the Biscoff spread. If unsweetened, add 1/4 cup of powdered sugar.

For the Chocolate Shards
4 ounces (120 grams) bittersweet (70% cacao) chocolate, chopped

Make the Chocolate Shards
In order for the chocolate shards to stick to the cake easily, the whipped ganache should be at room temperature, so make sure to have them ready by the time you are finished with the ganache.

1. Place the chopped chocolate in the top of a double boiler set over hot water and allow to melt, stirring often. Place a 16-inch-long parchment paper on your work surface. Pour the melted chocolate onto the paper and using an offset spatula, spread it in a thin and even layer, about 1/3 of an inch off each edge. Place a second sheet of same-sized parchment paper on top and gently press to release the air bubbles. Starting with one short end, roll the parchment paper tightly into an-inch-wide tube. Place it seam side down on a rimmed baking tray and chill in the refrigerator until set, for at least 2 hours.

2. Have a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper ready and remove the tube from the refrigerator. Unroll the tube in one quick motion, which creates the chocolate shards. Remove the top sheet of parchment paper, and with the help of a large offset spatula go underneath the pieces, pick them up and transfer them to the lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until ready to use.

You can make the chocolate shards 3 days in advance.

Make the Devil’s Food Cake
1. Adjust the oven rack to the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C. Butter two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Butter the parchment papers, dust with cocoa powder, tap out excess and set aside.

2. Sift cocoa powder into a medium bowl, add boiling water and whisk until the cocoa is completely dissolved. Add milk and whisk to combine. Set aside to cool.

3. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt into a medium bowl and set aside.

4. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and beat on medium speed for 5 more minutes, scraping down the sides with a spatula as necessary. Add the eggs, one at a time, making sure each one is fully incorporated before adding the next. Beat in vanilla.

5. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the cocoa mixture.

6. Divide batter evenly among the prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of each layer comes out clean, rotating pans halfway through for even baking. Allow to cool in the pans for a few minutes, then take out and leave to cool completely on a wire rack.

Make the Whipped Biscoff Ganache
Place both chocolates in the top of a double boiler set over hot water and allow to melt, stirring often. Remove from heat and whisk in the Biscoff spread (or peanut butter and 1/4 c. powdered sugar). Add the heavy cream and with the help of an electric mixer, whisk until soft peaks form. Be careful not to overbeat, as the frosting will become grainy.

Assemble the Cake
1. Remove parchment papers from the bottoms of the cakes. Using a long, serrated knife, remove the top crusts to flatten the surface of the cakes. Place one cake on an 8-inch cardboard round or your serving plate (wide strips of parchment paper placed under the cake will keep the serving plate clean after frosting).

2. Frost the top with a little more than 1/3 of the ganache. Place the second cake on top and frost the top and the sides with the remaining ganache.

3. Take the frozen chocolate chards out of the refrigerator and gently stick the shards to the ganache with the help of a tweezer. Use long pieces for the sides and smaller pieces for the top. Place the cake in the refrigerator until the ganache is firmly set, for about an hour, then serve.