Hot Cocoa Layer Cake

What’s better than a steaming mug of hot chocolate? This Hot Cocoa Layer Cake! It’s inspired by everyone’s favorite cozy winter beverage with three rich chocolate cake layers, swirls of cocoa frosting, and a pile of homemade toasted marshmallows on top.

Hot Cocoa Layer Cake

This is the big, warm, comfortable sweater of chocolate cakes, if you ask me. The texture of the frosting is so soft and billowy. It’s best applied in large swirls (cake smoothers need not apply). I would call it old fashioned as a compliment. Because the cake layers have that rich old-school flavor that only comes with melting butter and chocolate together on a stove top.

Unusual prep, but highly delish chocolate frosting.

The frosting is what really makes this cake special. Its preparation is very similar to that of making drinking cocoa. I was almost tempted to take a sip! I’ve made it a couple of times before, but instead of using it as a cake covering, it filled puffy buttermilk doughnuts. It is ultra-luxurious!

Vanilla beans are a prized commodity right now. Because of the expense I save mine for special occasions (this frosting). If you’re out of beans, you can use 2 teaspoons of extract instead. Use a big pot for cooking the ingredients, and be sure to stock up on cocoa! The frosting alone uses 2 whole cups and the cake layers require an additional 3/4 cup.

After cooking the cocoa frosting mixture on the stove top, pour it into a 13×9-inch pan and freeze it until solid. I know this might seem strange, but there’s a method to the madness.

Hot Cocoa Layer Cake

The ultimate rich cocoa frosting!

The chilled mixture will be quite thick, and you’ll need a big spoon to scrape it all into the bowl of an electric mixer. Let it stand for about 5 minutes to loosen, and then beat it with a whip attachment until light and fluffy.

Hot Cocoa Layer Cake

As this mixture is whipped, it warms slightly and aerates. Just look at that fluffy goodness! I was compelled to drag a finger through the frosting on the cake, but I resisted for the sake of these photographs.

I filled and frosted the cake in one go – no crumb coat – because the frosting was so plentiful and voluminous. Refrigeration will help the frosting to set semi-firm and hold its shape.

Marshmallow Goodness!

I must be going through a toasted marshmallow phase, because I recently used it on these Mini Lemon Marshmallow Pies. The creamy vanilla flavor is a nice counter to all that chocolate, and no store-bought marshmallow can compare to the soft, bouncy deliciousness of homemade marshmallows. The recipe is from Shauna Sever’s excellent book Marshmallow Madness. A book which I’ve loved since 2011.

Hot Cocoa Layer Cake

This cake is a hefty size, and has big chocolate flavor. If you’re looking to feed a crowd for birthdays or potlucks, this one might serve you well with its triple 9-inch layers.  And it’s really a sight to behold with that crown of golden toasted marshmallows on top!

Hot Cocoa Layer Cake is an essential for for fall and winter baking. We love it and I hope you’ll love it too! If you’re craving a steaming cuppa to go along with this cake, see my favorite Malted Milk Hot Cocoa Recipe right here.

Hot Cocoa Layer Cake

Heather Baird
What’s better than a steaming mug of hot chocolate? This Hot Cocoa Cake! It’s inspired by everyone’s favorite cozy winter beverage with three rich chocolate cake layers, swirls of cocoa frosting, and a pile of homemade toasted marshmallows on top.
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 50 minutes
30 minutes setting time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16

Equipment

  • 9 inch cake pans
  • 8×8 baking pan

Ingredients
 
 

Cake layers

  • 3/4 cup 6 oz. unsalted butter; more for the pans
  • 3/4 cup 180ml vegetable oil
  • 4-1/2 oz. bittersweet chocolate finely chopped
  • 1 cup 8 oz. water
  • 3 cups 13.5 oz. all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups 598g granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup 2.25 oz. natural unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 large eggs at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup 180ml buttermilk, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine grain salt

Hot chocolate frosting

  • 2 1/2 cups 600ml heavy cream
  • 6 tablespoons 3 oz. unsalted butter
  • 1 vanilla bean split lengthwise and seeds scraped out
  • 1 cup 6 oz. semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 2 cups 400g granulated sugar
  • 2 cups 6 oz. natural unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup Lyle’s Golden Syrup or light corn syrup
  • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Vanilla marshmallows

  • 4 1/2 teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin dissolved in 1/2 cup cold water
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup divided
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1-2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup coating: 1 1/2 parts cornstarch to 1 part confectioners’ sugar whisked together

Instructions
 

  • Make the cake layers: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat three 9×2-inch round cake pans with flour-based baking spray (or grease and flour). In a large saucepan (3 quart or larger), combine the butter, oil, chopped chocolate, and 1 cup water. Heat over medium heat until melted.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, and cocoa powder. Pour the hot chocolate mixture into the sugar mixture and whisk until combined. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, then whisk in the buttermilk, vanilla, baking soda, and salt. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans.
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean. Cool on wire racks for 10 minutes. Invert the cakes onto the racks, remove the parchment, and cool completely.
  • Make the frosting: In a large (3+ quart) saucepan over low heat, combine the cream, butter, and vanilla bean and seeds and stir until the butter is melted. Remove the vanilla bean and whisk in the chopped chocolate until melted. Whisk in the sugar, cocoa powder, syrup, and salt until smooth—be sure the cocoa powder dissolves completely. Pour into a 9×13-inch pan and freeze until firm, about 2 hours, or refrigerate overnight.
  • Make the marshmallows: Lightly spray an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with cooking spray and wipe away any excess with a paper towel.
  • Let the gelatin dissolved in cold water stand for at least 5 minutes.
  • In a medium saucepan, stir together the sugar, 1/4 cup corn syrup, 1/4 cup water and salt and place over high heat. Boil, stirring occasionally, until the temperature reaches 240°F. Meanwhile, pour the remaining 1/4 cup corn syrup into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
  • Microwave the gelatin on high until it is completely melted, about 10-20 seconds. Pour it into the corn syrup. Set the mixer to low, and keep the mixer running while you check the sugar syrup.
  • Once the syrup reaches 240°F, remove it from the heat. Keeping the mixer on low, slowly pour the syrup into the gelatin mixture in a steady stream, aiming for the space between the beater and the bowl. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 5 minutes. Raise the speed to medium-high and beat for 5 more minutes. Beat on the highest setting for 1 to 2 minutes more and beat in the vanilla extract until you reach the level of flavoring you like; the finished marshmallow will be opaque white, fluffy, and roughly tripled in volume.
  • Pour the marshmallow into the prepared pan. Use an offset spatula to nudge it into the corners and smooth the top. Sift coating evenly and generously over the top. Let set for at least 2 hours in a cool, dry place. When the marshmallow has set, use a knife to loosen the marshmallow from the edges of the pan. Invert the marshmallow slab onto a coating-dusted work surface and dust it with more coating. Cut into large squares and dip the sticky edges of the marshmallows in more coating, patting off the excess.
  • Assemble the cake: Remove the frosting from the freezer or refrigerator. Scrape it into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes to soften. Change to a whisk attachment and beat at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  • Put a cake layer on a flat serving platter or a cake stand lined with strips of waxed paper to keep it clean while icing. Top the layer with 1 cup of the frosting, spreading it evenly with an offset spatula to the cake’s edge. Repeat with another cake layer and 1 cup frosting. Top with the last cake layer.
  • Use the remaining frosting to cover the outside of the cake; apply it in large swirls using an offset spatula. Refrigerate the cake until the frosting firms, about 20 to 30 minutes.
  • Pile the marshmallows on top of the cake and brown them using a chef’s torch. If you do not have a chef’s torch, you may transfer the marshmallows to a lightly grease baking sheet and brown them under a preheated oven broiler. Allow the toasted marshmallows to stand until firm enough to transfer to the top of the cake.

Notes

Cake adapted from Rebecca Rather for Fine Cooking;
Marshmallow recipe adapted from Marshmallow Madness (Quirk, 2012) by Shauna Sever.
Keyword chocolate cake, hot cocoa, layer cake
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Unknown
Unknown
5 years ago

Looks amazing !I can't wait to make this cake!

Natalie
Natalie
5 years ago

Looks so delicious! I love hot chocolate and this cake is the ultimate birthday cake!

Nata
Nata
5 years ago

The texture of that slice … and I'm on a weight loss challenge right now! On my list as soon as I complete it 🙂

CakeLady
CakeLady
4 years ago

I made this cake. Divine! Torching the marshmallows with the lights out was high point of the party. Too bad I can't attach my picture. I think my reproduction was spot on. Will make again and again, as it's a show stopper and the taste is incredible.

Pam Kozlow
Pam Kozlow
4 years ago

I have two questions: I noticed you didn't use coffee in this recipe but you do in other cakes and wondered why you didn't add it to this recipe? Also your frosting sounds absolutely delicious but I would like to know if you can freeze this frosting ahead of time and then take it out of freezer and continue finishing it the day I would be frosting the cake?

Many thanks

Melanie
Melanie
1 year ago

5 stars
My mother-in-law declared this the best dessert I have ever made. Everything about this cake was delicious. The instructions were detailed and easy to follow. Another winner!