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A rich chocolate cake with fresh strawberries on top,

Valentine’s Chocolate-Strawberry Cake

This Valentine’s Chocolate-Strawberry Cake combines moist chocolate layers, fresh strawberries, and silky ganache for a showstopping treat. Perfect for date nights or indulgent self-love moments!
5 from 1 vote
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Ingredients
  

For the Cake:

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup hot coffee

For the Strawberry Buttercream:

  • 1 ½ cups unsalted butter softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • ⅓ cup freeze-dried strawberry powder
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp heavy cream
  • For the Ganache:
  • 1 cup dark chocolate chips
  • ½ cup heavy cream

Decoration:

  • Fresh strawberries halved
  • Edible rose petals

Instructions
 

Bake the Cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease three 8-inch pans.
  • Whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • In another bowl, beat eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Stir in coffee.
  • Divide batter into pans. Bake 25–30 mins. Cool completely.

Make Buttercream:

  • Beat butter until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, strawberry powder, vanilla, and cream. Whip until smooth.

Assemble:

  • Layer cakes with buttercream and strawberry halves. Crumb coat and chill 30 mins. Frost fully.

Ganache:

  • Heat cream until simmering. Pour over chocolate chips. Stir until smooth. Drizzle over cake.
  • Decorate: Top with strawberries and rose petals.