Holiday Dark Chocolate Cake with Ghirardelli Frosting

A chocolate layer cake gives a Christmas or New Year's Eve table a clear centerpiece. Here is Ghirardelli's published cake formula in a compact format, followed by the distinction that matters when shopping: our bittersweet chips are for the frosting, while the unsweetened cocoa is a separate ingredient.

Recipe at a glance

Two layers: two 8- or 9-inch round pans. Oven: 350°F; bake 30-45 minutes.

Cake ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons each baking powder and baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 14 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup boiling water

Frosting ingredients

• 10 oz 60% cacao bittersweet chips
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• 3/4 cup softened unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• Pinch of salt

Method

1. Grease and parchment-line pan bottoms. Mix dry ingredients; beat in milk and butter on medium for 2 minutes. Add eggs, vanilla and boiling water.
2. Divide between pans; bake until a center tester is clean. Cool 10-15 minutes before unmolding; cool fully.
3. Double-boiler melt frosting chocolate. Separately mix cocoa and boiling water; cool both to room temperature.
4. Beat frosting butter, sugar and salt until fluffy; add chocolate on low, then cocoa mixture. Frost cooled cakes.

Recipe source: Ghirardelli's Classic Dark Chocolate Cake. Recipe facts are presented in our own wording. TED Trade USA has not independently tested this formula.

What to buy from TED Trade USA

The Ghirardelli 60% cacao bittersweet chips, 5 lb bag match the type and cacao percentage named for the frosting, not an asserted identical retail SKU. Check the current product label, and weigh out 10 oz from the larger bag. The recipe does not call for the whole foodservice bag.

Keep the cocoa purchase separate

The exact Ghirardelli unsweetened cocoa named in this recipe is not in our current catalog. Obtain that ingredient separately or ask the manufacturer about an approved alternative. Our sweetened ground chocolate beverage powder and 100% unsweetened chocolate wafers are not cocoa powder. Neither is presented here as a replacement.

Do not assume a different cocoa powder will behave the same in a cake that uses baking soda and baking powder. Keep the original formula intact for your first batch rather than adding a last-minute holiday substitution.

Before serving a holiday group

Read all ingredient labels for allergen information, and check guests' requirements before choosing decorations. The source does not give a cake serving count or a tested finished-cake shelf life, so neither is promised here.

For another separate bake, try our Christmas chocolate chip cookies. To compare chocolate formats before buying, read chocolate chips versus baking bars and browse the baking chocolate collection.

Explore the rest of our holiday chocolate baking guide for separate cookie, cake and dessert-planning ideas.