The Complicated Cake: An Invention on a Lazy Saturday

Last Saturday, I got busy in the kitchen creating a one-of-a-kind layer cake. When I started, I had no idea I was to invent such a work of culinary art. It didn't really look like art...but it tasted like art. Imagine fluffy light frosting enveloped in a fudge spotted yellow pound cake and finally engulfed in a thick layer of milky chocolate buttercream. Needless to say, I had thirds.

The Cake
1 marble cake mix
1 cup sour cream
1/2
cup
oil
1/2 cup water
2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
1 box vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
4 squares ghiradelli 60% cocoa baking squares (melted)
1/4 chocolate syrup

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the cakemix, sour cream, oil, water, vanilla, eggs, and pudding and pie filling mix until combined thoroughly. Measure out 1 cup of the batter in a medium-sized mixing bowl and stir in the small pouch of chocolate that comes with the mix, the melted baking squares, and the chocolate syrup. Pour equal amounts of the yellow batter into two greased and floured 9x13 inch pans. Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the chocolate batter at random intervals in each pan of yellow batter. Bake for 28-35 minutes--when the edges have separated from the sides of the pan and top is lightly browned. Cool before frosting and assembling.

Frosting #1
3 cups sugar
1 cup water
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
3 egg whites
1 tsp. vanilla

Boil water, sugar, and cream of tartar until it reaches the soft ball stage on the candy thermometer.

Beat three egg whites until they reach the stiff peaks stage. In an electric mixer, slowly add sugar mixture (about 2 minutes) while the mixer is beating. Add vanilla.

Frosting #2

1 1/2 sticks butter (3/4 cup)
One lb. bag powdered sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1/3-1/2 C. milk

Beat softened butter and cocoa until combined evenly. Alternate powdered sugar and milk until buttercream is smooth, fluffy, and at desired spreading consistency.

Assembly: Cover a large cutting board with foil. Flip one of the cooled layers onto the cutting board and generously smother with frosting #1 (sometime refered to as seven minute frosting). Flip the second layer on top of the first and gently spread frosting #2 (light chocolate buttercream) on the sides and top. If you're feeling fancy, grate a square of baking chocolate on top of the finished product. :)