chocolate strawberry cake ideas?

[pissaladiere]

My soon to be 4 year old daughter has requested a chocolate strawberry cake for her birthday. She would like it to have "pink" icing and chocolate covered strawberries on top. It will need to serve around 20 people. I was thinking of making the America's test kitchen sour cream chocolate cake, but need ideas for the filling and icing. I'm looking for something delicious but not too rich. My kids don't mind a nice bittersweet ganache, but I'm not sure the rest of the kids present will appreciate it. I'm hoping that our delicious local strawberries will be beginning to ripen by then (It is at the end of this month) Any inspiration or ideas?

[Tweety69bird]

How about your chocolate cake, with a layer of ganache that has some strawberry puree added into it, like this thread fruit puree in chocolate talks about, and then covering the cake with a pink tinted buttercream? That, with the chocolate dipped strawberries will look dynamite!

[SweetSide]

Or how about filling with a strawberry whipped cream stabilized with a small amount of gelatin?

Or with a strawberry white chocolate ganache?

[CanadianBakin']

My first thought was, strawberries taste awesome dipped in chocolate mousse! So, my thought would be something like a Frasier, I think it's called. A 9" cake split in two. First layer down, probably inside a ring (springform would work). A layer of chocolate mousse, strawberries standing on end (stem end down). They usually put strawberries cut in half around the outside. Then fill up the gaps with more chocolate mousse. Put top layer of cake on and press down a bit. Chill. Then you could do one of two things. My understanding is a traditional Frasier would simply have a layer of buttercream on top and leave the sides exposed or, you could cover the whole thing in a chocolate glaze. Either way I think it would be scrumptious. My husband doesn't like fruit and chocolate but when local strawberries are ready I think I'll give this a try anyways.

[rooftop1000]

A bakery near me does a chocolate strawberry shortcake...the usual suspect just chocolate cakes

white chocolate ganache filling is sooooooooo good...even the the one I messed up, melted, and fixed.

tracey

[pissaladiere]

Thanks for all the ideas. I'm leaning towards filling it with a mixture of strawberries and cream and topping with the pink tinted buttercream and strawberries. It is hard to go wrong with chocolate and fresh strawberries.

The ganache mixed with fresh strawberries sounds delicious too. Maybe I'll do three layers of cake. If I make a large oblong cake, what is the best and easiest way to split it into layer. I am a little clumsy at that sort of thing?

Andrea

[RuthWells]

I'm leaning towards filling it with a mixture of strawberries and cream and topping with the pink tinted buttercream and strawberries.

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You can fold 1/4 - 1/3 cup of strawberry puree into about 4 cups of buttercream for a lovely, pale pink, strawberry frosting. If the pink is too pale, you could bump it up with some food coloring.

[SweetSide]

Thanks for all the ideas.  I'm leaning towards filling it with a mixture of strawberries and cream and topping with the pink tinted buttercream and strawberries.  It is hard to go wrong with chocolate and fresh strawberries. 

The ganache mixed with fresh strawberries sounds delicious too.  Maybe I'll do three layers of cake.  If I make a large oblong cake, what is the best  and easiest way to split it into layer. I am a little clumsy at that sort of thing?

Andrea

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Have a cake board handy. Can be a cardboard, a large flat (no rims) cookie sheet, anything flat and sturdy to hold the cake. You'll need one for each layer you wish to torte off.

Determine the number of layers you are going to split it in and then run the large serrated knife through at the appropriate point, but don't remove the cake layer. Once cut, insert the knife into the cut and lift slightly - just enough to begin sliding the cardboard or tray in. Continue moving the knife through the cut and following the with the board. The object is to get the board into the cut fully. Once all of the top layer is on the board, just lift it away. Repeat for any other layers.

[foodie52]

The cake board - what a great idea!

[pissaladiere]

Thanks for the cake board idea. I think even my clumsy hands can manage that. I will report back on the birthday cake next week.

Andrea