Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Filling
Moist chocolate cake layered with a tangy cream cheese center and topped with luscious chocolate ganache. A rich, irresistible dessert perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake:
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot coffee or hot water
Cream Cheese Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Ganache (Optional):
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 oz semi-sweet or dark chocolate finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x13 inch or two 9-inch round pans.
- Whisk dry cake ingredients; mix wet ingredients and combine. Stir in hot coffee.
- Beat cream cheese with sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
- Pour half of the batter into pan, dollop cream cheese filling, swirl, then top with remaining batter.
- Bake 35–45 minutes. Cool completely.
- For ganache: Heat cream, pour over chocolate and butter, stir until smooth.
- Pour ganache over cooled cake. Chill to set.
Notes
- Use room temperature cream cheese for smoother filling.
- Ganache optional but highly recommended.
- Store cake in fridge for up to 5 days or freeze slices.
- Add chocolate chips or berries to the filling for variation.
- Works great as cupcakes—adjust bake time to 18–22 mins.