I got this recipe in a Taste of Home magazine. It was really, really good. I didn't find it overly rich, except I thought the frosting had too much butter in it. If you wanted to cut calories, time and money you could easily make a more basic chocolate cake and top it the same way. 1 chocolate cake mix
1 3.9 oz instant chocolate pudding
4 eggs
1 c sour cream
3/4 c water
1/4 c oil
4 oz. melted semi sweet chocolate
Frosting:
2 cups butter, softened (I think it would be better with 1 cup instead)
4 cups powdered sugar
3/4 c. cocoa
1/2 cup milk
Garnishes:
2 oz. melted semi sweet chocolate
1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled
Ganache:
4 oz. semisweet chocolate
1/2 c heavy whipping cream
Combine the first seven ingredients; beat on low speed for 30 sec., then on medium for 2 min. Transfer into two greased and floured 9-in round baking pans. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 min before removing from pans to wire racks to completely cool. Make the frosting by combining the ingredients and beating until smooth. Spread between the layers and on the top and sides of the cake. Melt chocolate for garnishes in a small ziplock bag and cut the corner to pipe out squiggles on waxed paper. Cool to set. Arrange strawberries on top. Heat the cream to boiling and add the melted chocolate to make the ganache. Drizzle over cake and strawberries. Top with chocolate garnishes.
