rusty2rusty

CHOCOLATE PRALINE FUDGE CAKE



CAKE:

1 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 cup water
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350�. Grease bottoms of three 8-inch cake pans; line with wax paper. Grease & flour wax paper and sides of pans. Cook first 3 ingredients in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until butter melts and mixture is smooth; remove from heat. Cool.

Beat buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add butter mixture beating until blended. Combine sugar, flour and salt. Gradually add to buttermilk mixture, beating until blended. (Batter will be thin.) Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.

Bake 20 to 22 min or until wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 min. Remove from pans; remove wax paper. Cool completely on racks.

GANACHE:

2 cups semisweet chocolate morsels
1/3 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Microwave chocolate and cream in a glass bowl on 50% power 2 to 3 min or untl chocolate is melted, stirring after 1 1/2 min; whisk until smooth. Gradually add butter, whisking until smooth. Cool, whisking often, about 25 min or until spreading consistency.

Spread about 1/2 cup ganache between cake layers; spread remainder on sides of cake. Do not frost top. Chill cake 30 min.

PRALINE FROSTING:

This will harden fast so do not make ahead.

1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/3 cup whipping cream
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Bring first 3 ingredients to a boil in a 2 qt saucepan over medium heat, stirring often; boil 1 min. Remove from heat; whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add pecans, stirring gently 3 to 5 min or until frosting begins to and thicken slightly. Pour frosting immediately over top of cake, spreading to edges and allowing some to run over sides of cake. (Can be frozen. Thaw at room temperature 4 to 6 hours.)

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