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blackout cake

Brooklyn Blackout Cake

The Crispy Chef
A legendary dessert originating from Brooklyn, featuring rich chocolate layers, chocolate pudding, and dark chocolate frosting. Made famous by Ebinger's Bakery, it connects deeply with Brooklyn's cultural history, dating back to World War II.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 390 kcal

Equipment

  • Cake pans
  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • cake stand

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients:

  • 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • ¾ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup hot brewed coffee
  • Chocolate Pudding Filling:
  • 1½ cups whole milk
  • 100 grams bittersweet chocolate
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dark Chocolate Frosting:

  • 12 oz semisweet chocolate
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Dutch cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup hot water

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
  • Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Add wet ingredients and mix until combined. Then, stir in the hot coffee.
  • Pour batter into greased cake pans and bake for 40-45 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes.
  • For the pudding, combine milk, chocolate, and vanilla. Cook over medium heat, stirring until thickened. Chill for 2-3 hours.
  • Prepare the frosting by melting chocolate and combining with butter, powdered sugar, cocoa, and vanilla. Stir in hot water and mix until smooth.
  • Slice the cake layers in half, layer with pudding, and frost with chocolate ganache. Press crumbled cake crumbs onto the frosting for the signature blackout appearance.

Notes

Be patient with the pudding setting, it should be thick but spreadable.
Chill the cake between layering stages to prevent the pudding from spilling.
For a pro-like finish, use a rotating cake stand and offset spatula.

Nutrition

Serving: 200gCalories: 390kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 4gFat: 22gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 180mgPotassium: 150mgFiber: 3gSugar: 35gVitamin A: 250IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Brooklyn Blackout Cake, Chocolate Pudding Cake, Easy Chocolate Cake, Ebinger's Bakery, World War II Cake
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