Chocolate Cake with Whipped Fudge Filling and Chocolate Buttercream

Making this cake is a process, but it pays off with a serious treat for chocolate-lovers. The cake layers are dense enough to hold up to the whipped fudge filling while still having a light, cakey texture, and the sweet milk chocolate in the buttercream is toned down with the addition of bittersweet chocolate. The whole cake is wrapped in a decorative chocolate-drizzle cage, but if you’re not feeling confident about pulling off that final flourish, just drizzle the melted chocolate over the top of the cake — I’m sure no one will complain.

Game plan: You can prepare the cake layers up to a day in advance. Just wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature. The fudge filling and buttercream are best used right away. You can also prepare the entire cake up to 2 days in advance and refrigerate it. Just let it come up to room temperature for about 1 to 2 hours before serving.

For the chocolate cake:

1. Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Cut out 2 (8-inch) rounds of parchment paper; set aside. Coat 2 (8-inch) cake pans with butter, place the rounds in the pans, and coat the parchment with more butter. Coat the pans and parchment with flour and tap out any excess; set aside.
2. Whisk together the measured flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl until combined; set aside.
3. Whisk together the cocoa and boiling water in a small bowl until combined. Slowly whisk in the milk; set aside.
4. Place the measured butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat on medium-high speed until fluffy and light in color, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar and vanilla and continue to beat for another 4 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle with a rubber spatula.
5. Return the mixer to medium-high speed. Add the eggs 1 at a time, letting each incorporate fully before adding the next. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle.
6. Add a third of the flour mixture and turn the mixer to low speed, mixing until the flour is just incorporated. Add half of the cocoa mixture and mix until just incorporated. Continue with the remaining flour mixture and cocoa mixture, alternating between each and ending with the flour, until all of the ingredients are incorporated and smooth. Stop the mixer, remove the bowl, and stir in any remaining flour streaks by hand, making sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl.
7. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake them side by side on the rack for 15 minutes. Rotate the pans from left to right and back to front and continue baking until the cake edges slightly pull away from the pans and a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out dry with just a few crumbs, about 15 to 20 minutes more.
8. Remove the pans from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack for about 15 to 20 minutes. Run a knife around the perimeter of each cake, turn them out onto the rack, and slowly peel off the parchment rounds. Let cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours. Meanwhile, make the buttercream and filling.

For the milk chocolate buttercream:

1. 1Fill a medium saucepan with 2 inches of water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low so the water is just simmering. Place the milk and bittersweet chocolates in a heatproof bowl large enough to sit over the water without touching it. Place the bowl over the saucepan and stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Set aside until cooled slightly but still pourable, about 5 to 10 minutes.
2. 2Beat the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
3. 3Add the milk and beat until incorporated. Pour in the chocolate and mix until completely incorporated. Add the vanilla and salt and mix until incorporated. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle with a rubber spatula.
4. 4Turn the mixer speed to low and slowly add the powdered sugar until it’s incorporated and the mixture is creamy; set aside at room temperature. Meanwhile, make the filling.

For the whipped fudge filling:

1. 1Place the chocolate in the bowl of a stand mixer (the bowl must be heatproof); set aside.
2. 2Whisk together the cream and corn syrup in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Pour the cream mixture over the reserved chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Refrigerate uncovered, stirring occasionally, until cooled to room temperature, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
3. 3Place the bowl on the stand mixer and fit the mixer with a paddle attachment. Beat on high speed until the chocolate mixture is lighter in color and fluffy in texture, about 1 minute. Immediately assemble the cake (the whipped fudge filling will harden and be difficult to spread as it sits).