Ingredients

Chocolate Cake

2 cups AP flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
teaspoon baking soda
teaspoons fine salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons good quality Dutch process cocoa powder (such as Valhrona or Cocoa Barry)
1 cups muscavado light brown sugar
1 cups granulated sugar
1 cups strongly brewed black coffee, at room temperature
1 cups buttermilk
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter two 9-inch cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
3. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the cocoa powder and cook for 1 minute. Remove from the heat, add the sugars and whisk until the sugar is dissolved. Add the coffee, buttermilk, eggs and vanilla extract and continue whisking until smooth and just combined.
4. Divide the batter evenly between the 2 pans and bake on the middle rack until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 42 minutes. Let cool in the pans on a baking rack for 20 minutes. Then invert the cakes onto the baking rack and let cool for at least 1 hour before frosting. Slice each cake in half horizontally. Place one cake layer on a cake round or platter and spread 1/3 of the frosting evenly over the top, repeat to make 3 layers and top with the remaining cake layer, top side up. Pour the chocolate ganache over the cake, let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

Cajeta Filling
2 cups whole milk
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk, Mount Thai brand
1 cup goats milk
cup plus 1 tablespoon pure cane sugar
cup water
vanilla bean, seeds scraped
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 tablespoons very cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 teaspoons coconut rum, optional
1 cups sweetened coconut
1 cups toasted coarsely chopped pecans

1. Bring the milk, coconut milk and goats milk to a simmer over low heat in a small saucepan. Keep warm while you prepare the caramel
2. Combine the sugar and water in a medium saucepan over high heat and cook (do not stir) until deep amber brown color. Slowly whisk in the warm milk mixture and continue whisking until smooth; add the vanilla seeds and corn syrup. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until the sauce is reduced by half and is the consistency of a caramel sauce, about 55 minutes.
3. Once the sauce is reduced, remove from the heat and whisk in the cold better, vanilla extract, salt and rum and whisk until combined. Transfer the sauce to a medium bowl and stir in the pecans and coconut. Let the frosting cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally before frosting the cake.


Coconut Whipped Cream
1 cups cold heavy cream
cup Cocoa Lopez
2 tablespoons confectioners sugar or granulated sugar
1 teaspoon coconut rum
teaspoon pure vanilla extract
cup lightly toasted sweetened coconut

Combine heavy cream, coconut milk, sugar and vanilla in a mixer and mix until soft peaks form. Slice cake, top with a dollop of whipped cream and garnish with some of the toasted coconut.

Ganache
8 ounces heavy cream
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
2 tablespoons light corn syrup

Bring cream to a simmer. Place chocolate in a medium bowl, add hot cream and corn syrup and let sit for 30 seconds. Gently whisk until smooth. Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before pouring over the cake.

Description

Chocolate Cake 2 ? Cups AP Flour 3 Teaspoons Baking Powder ? Teaspoon Baking Soda ? Teaspoons Fine Salt 12 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, At Room Temperature 1 Cup Plus 2 Tablespoons Good Quality Dutch Process Cocoa Powder (such As Valhrona Or Co

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