A stunning three-tiered chocolate wedding cake being decorated with dark chocolate ganache, featuring expert hands smoothing the surface in a softly lit professional bakery kitchen.

Decadent Chocolate Ganache Wedding Cake: The Ultimate Showstopper Dessert

Decadent Chocolate Ganache Wedding Cake: The Ultimate Showstopper Dessert

Key Information

Prep Time: 45-60 minutes
Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
Total Time: 2-4 hours
Servings: 24-36 guests
Difficulty: Moderate
Dietary Tags: Vegetarian, Optional Gluten-Free

Essential Equipment

Must-have tools:

A professional kitchen with warm lighting features a stand mixer preparing chocolate cake batter, surrounded by artfully arranged ingredients on a marble countertop, including cocoa powder, eggs, and sugar, while a chef adds vanilla extract.

Ingredients
Chocolate Cake
  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • ¾ cup cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter
  • ½ cup oil
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1½ cups sour cream
  • 1½ cups whole milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
Chocolate Ganache
  • 525g dark chocolate (60-70% cocoa)
  • 525ml heavy cream
Pro Baking Tips

🔥 Critical Temperature Markers:

  • Cake baking: 350°F (175°C)
  • Ganache cream: ~170°F (77°C)
  • Decorating ganache: 75-90°F (24-32°C)
Step-by-Step Method
  1. Prepare Cake Batter
    • Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy
    • Add oil, eggs, and vanilla
    • Gradually mix in dry ingredients
    • Alternate with milk and sour cream
  2. Bake Cake
    • Divide batter into prepared pans
    • Bake 30-35 minutes
    • Check doneness: cake springs back when touched
  3. Create Ganache
    • Finely chop chocolate
    • Heat cream to just before boiling
    • Pour over chocolate
    • Let stand 3-5 minutes
    • Stir until glossy and smooth
  4. Assemble and Decorate
    • Level cake layers
    • Apply crumb coat
    • Stack layers with ganache filling
    • Frost with whipped ganache
    • Decorate with fresh fruits or chocolate decorating tools

A close-up of a three-tiered chocolate wedding cake on a silver stand, with glossy ganache cascading down, being finished by skilled hands using an offset spatula, in a softly blurred professional bakery setting.

Storage & Variations

Storage:

  • Refrigerate up to 3 days
  • Freeze unfrosted layers up to 2 months

Variations:

  • Vegan: Non-dairy cream
  • Gluten-free: Alternative flour blend
  • Flavor infusions: Add espresso, liqueur, citrus zest
Common Mistakes to Avoid
  • Overheating ganache
  • Undermixing batter
  • Uneven cake layers
  • Incorrect ganache temperature for decorating
Final Pro Tips
  • ✅ Use a bench scraper for smooth frosting
  • ✅ Let cake come to room temperature before serving
  • ✅ Practice piping and decorating techniques beforehand

Elevate your wedding dessert game with this show-stopping chocolate ganache cake that’s as delicious as it is beautiful!

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