Decadence Inside and Out: Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Filling

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📖 Description:

This ultra-moist chocolate cake hides a luscious cream cheese filling inside — rich, velvety, and lightly tangy. Finished with an optional chocolate ganache glaze, it’s a show-stopping dessert that combines indulgence and elegance in every bite.

🌍 Origin:

A delicious mashup of American-style chocolate cake and cheesecake filling, this cake style gained popularity in the 1980s as bakers looked to elevate basic cakes with contrasting textures and rich fillings.

🧾 Ingredients

🧁 Chocolate Cake:

  • 1 ¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup (75g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (100g) brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (120ml) hot coffee or boiling water

🍰 Cream Cheese Filling:

  • 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
  • ⅓ cup (65g) granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

🍫 Optional Ganache Topping:

  • ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream
  • 4 oz (115g) semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp butter (for shine)

🧂 Optional Add-ins:

  • ½ cup mini chocolate chips in the filling
  • ½ tsp espresso powder in the cake batter for richer chocolate flavor
  • 1 tsp orange zest for a subtle citrus note

🥣 Instructions

1. Prep:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9-inch springform pan or two 8-inch round cake pans.

2. Make the Filling:

  • In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.
  • Add sugar, egg, flour, and vanilla. Mix until creamy and set aside.

3. Make the Cake Batter:

  • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and both sugars.
  • In another bowl, mix eggs, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla. Combine wet and dry ingredients.
  • Stir in hot coffee until smooth (batter will be thin).

4. Assemble:

  • Pour half the cake batter into prepared pan.
  • Spoon the cream cheese filling over the batter, staying 1 inch from the edges.
  • Pour remaining batter gently on top to cover the filling completely.

5. Bake:

  • Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until the top is set and a toothpick inserted in the cake (not the filling) comes out clean.
  • Cool completely in the pan before removing.

6. Make the Ganache (Optional):

  • Heat cream until simmering, pour over chopped chocolate. Let sit 1 minute, then whisk smooth.
  • Stir in butter, then pour over cooled cake.

✅ Tips for Success:

  • Use room temperature cream cheese to avoid lumps.
  • Avoid overmixing the batter once wet and dry ingredients are combined.
  • Make sure the filling stays centered — don’t let it reach the edges.
  • Let the cake cool fully before slicing for best texture.

🌟 Serving Recommendations:

  • Serve slices slightly warmed with a scoop of vanilla or raspberry sorbet.
  • Garnish with shaved chocolate, berries, or edible gold dust for elegance.
  • Pairs beautifully with espresso or dessert wine.

🧮 Nutrition (Approx. per slice, based on 12 servings):

  • Calories: 430
  • Fat: 26g
  • Saturated Fat: 12g
  • Carbohydrates: 45g
  • Sugar: 30g
  • Protein: 5g
  • Sodium: 280mg

Would you like a printable recipe card, gluten-free version, or this turned into cupcakes with filling?

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