Vanilla Triple Layer Cake with Whipped Dark Chocolate Frosting

Triple layer cake recipe has just a whisper of almond flavor and thick, puffs of whipped, dark chocolate frosting snuggling between each layer and enveloping the top and sides of this scrumptious dessert. It is easy and looks elegant, making it your perfect go-to recipe for everything from birthdays to fancy dinners.

You know, cupcakes have been in the limelight for several years. Yes, they are cute and easy and delicious but they aren’t cake. Oh, they have their place on the dessert table, for sure, yet there are times when I miss a nice slice of really good layer cake.

I think layer cakes are a dying art that should be revived. Cake mixes be damned, they can’t compare to a homemade layer cake! This one is sky high. I doubled my normal recipe for frosting for two reasons.

• This is my favorite frosting ever and I knew I would lick spoonfuls of it so I wanted to make sure that I had enough.
• I wanted generous layers of frosting between the layers of cake to make it look gorgeous and to keep the flavors balanced.

This layer cake is so high that you may want to stick drinking straws down through the layers to steady them. Also, for the prettiest slices be sure to chill this for an hour or so before slicing. Other than that the cake is super easy to make and put together. The layers are sturdy yet tender so they do not break easily. I mean, you don’t want to go play Frisbee with them or anything but if you let them cool they will not break apart when you try to put the cake together.

The buttermilk makes it tender and light. The cake isn’t super sweet but it is very flavorful. You can make it one day, brush the sugar syrup on it and then frost it the next day to save time. You can use different flavorings, add citrus zest, or whatever you want to make it yours. This is a recipe that you will memorize for sure.

Cake flour is a must, y’all. Don’t complain to me that it isn’t tender if you use all purpose flour in this.

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Triple Layer Vanilla Cake with Whipped Dark Chocolate Frosting

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A towering, tender vanilla cake lightly flavored with almond is generously filled and frosted with a deep, dark, whipped chocolate frosting.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 16 servings

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Ingredients

Cake

• 4 cups cake flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
• 3 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon almond flavoring
• 2 cup buttermilk
• 6 unbeaten egg whites

Vanilla Sugar Syrup

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Frosting

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 1/3 cups extra dark cocoa, (King Arthur has a black cocoa, or your favorite)
• 6 cups Confectioner’s sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 2/3 cup heavy cream, , as needed
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla

Instructions

Cake

• Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
• Cream butter and sugar together just until light and fluffy.
• Beat in the vanilla and the almond flavorings.
• Add dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk.
• Beat well after each addition.
• Add the unbeaten egg whites and beat at medium speed for two minutes.
• Divide equally between 3 greased and wax paper lined 8″ round pans.
• Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, reduce heat to 325 and bake for 25 minutes more, or until the cake tests done.
• Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out and finish cooling on racks.

Sugar Syrup

• Mix water and sugar in a heavy saucepan.
• Heat until the sugar crystals are completely dissolved
• Remove from heat and allow to cool.
• Stir in vanilla.

Frosting

• Beat the butter and vanilla until it is fluffy.
• Mix the Confectioners, cocoa, and salt with a whisk until well blended.
• Slowly beat the confectioner’s mixture into the butter.
• Continue to beat until well blended.
• Turn the mixer to highest speed and add 1/2 cup of the cream.
• Beat until light and fluffy, with a whipped consistency, adding more cream as needed to achieve the right texture.

Assembly

• Brush the cake layers lightly with the sugar syrup. You won’t use all of it so put the rest in a tightly covered jar in the refrigerator. It will keep for months.
• Fill and frost the layers with a thick layer of frosting.
• Chill before serving to allow it to firm up.

Notes

Cake freezes well when unfrosted. If you freeze the frosting it can get a little grainy but is other wise good.

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Used in this Layer Cake Recipe

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa  (I use either, depending on whether I have run out of the King Arthur or not!)
Wilton Round Cake Pan, 8 by 3-Inch

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