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Truth Barbeque’s Triple-Layer Chocolate Cake recipe

Truth Barbeque’s Triple-Layer Chocolate Cake

Leonard Botello IV shares a longtime family recipe that’s become a staple at the Houston joint.

Equipment

  • 3 eight-inch cake pans

Ingredients  

Chocolate icing

  • 1½ cups butter, softened
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1½ cups Ghirardelli cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 7 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup milk

Chocolate cake

  • butter, for greasing the pan
  • 3½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 1½ cups Ghirardelli cocoa powder
  • 1½ teaspoons salt
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 1½ teaspoons espresso powder
  • 1 cup boiling water

Directions 

Make the icing:

  • In a stand mixer, beat together the butter and cream cheese. Add cocoa powder and vanilla extract; mix on low.
  • Next, add powdered sugar ½ cup at a time. 
  • While mixing in the powdered sugar, add milk until the icing reaches desired consistency. To thicken consistency, you can also place the icing in the refrigerator while the cake bakes.

Make the cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Butter three 8-inch cake pans. Dust cake pans with flour and set to the side.
  • In a stand mixer, add cocoa powder, salt, granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix on low.
  • Meanwhile, add the instant espresso to a cup of boiling water.
  • While mixer is on low, add vanilla, whipping cream, oil, and eggs, followed by the espresso and water mixture, and continue to beat until fully mixed. This process will take up to 4 minutes. Once the batter is smooth, distribute the mixture into the 3 floured pans. 
  • Place pans in the oven and bake for 30–40 minutes. To check for doneness, stick the center of a cake with a cake tester or toothpick and make sure it comes out clean. Let the cakes cool for up to an hour.
  • Once cakes are done cooling, trim the cakes to make sure all layers are the same (do not throw away excess pieces—they are a great snack!). Once you finish trimming your layers to your liking, it’s time to ice, slice, and enjoy!