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Classic chocolate mud cake recipe with chocolate ganache. Top with fresh berries during the summer.
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Classic chocolate mud cake recipe with chocolate ganache. Top with fresh berries during the summer.

We’d made quite a few cakes over the last year.. you’d think that my favorite type of cake would be a multi-layered cake, covered in delicious buttercream.

But it’s actually not.

Well, if it was a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and I could eat it with a scoop of vanilla bean or mint chip ice cream – then possibly!

My favorite type of cake is mud cake!

Classic chocolate mud cake recipe with chocolate ganache. Top with fresh berries during the summer.

I’m not talking about the cute (but disgusting!) mud cakes you’re kiddos might make for you in the park or backyard.

The kind of mud cake I’m in love with consists of melting chocolate, sugar, butter and milk until smooth then you mix your flour into the melted chocolate.

There is no beating of eggs and sugar, like you would see in a traditional fluffier cake recipe. The mud cake is about delicious dense chocolate cake in the best way possible. I know dense can be a weird word to describe a cake, but it’s almost like a brownie cake – not quite as dense as a brownie – but downright delicious.

Classic chocolate mud cake recipe with chocolate ganache. Top with fresh berries during the summer.

Today we’re sharing a recipe for a standard chocolate mud cake with chocolate ganache that is very versatile for any season. Since we’re in the middle of berry season, I topped this cake with fresh strawberries and cherries.

I can definitely see myself making this classic chocolate mud cake and decorating it with peppermint stick pieces for Christmas, coconut flakes for spring, or with lots of sprinkles for a birthday!

Classic chocolate mud cake recipe with chocolate ganache. Top with fresh berries during the summer.

I inherited my grandmother’s hand mixer when she passed away and it became a beloved kitchen appliance because it was the only mixer I owned. I used it until the motor died, mid buttercream making, at least it went out doing something it loved, lol.

But a food blogger without a stand mixer seems like an oxymoron, right?! Well, I’m beyond the moon that we’re partnering with KitchenAid!!

To make this chocolate mud cake I used my Metallic Pearl Professional 600 Series 6 QT Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer. For someone who has only owned a hand mixer, this stand mixer is like a magical robot – or like a second pair of hands that can mix things without getting tired!

Classic chocolate mud cake recipe with chocolate ganache. Top with fresh berries during the summer.

I created this recipe in partnership with KitchenAid. Thank you for supporting the brands who make it possible for me to share recipes with you!

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Berry Mud Cake

By: Beth
Additional Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours
Servings: 12 servings
Classic chocolate mud cake recipe with chocolate ganache. Top with fresh berries during the summer.

Ingredients 

Mud Cake

  • 4 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, diced (1 cup)
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • ¾ tsp baking powder
  • tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

Chocolate Ganache

  • ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • cup heavy whipping cream
  • Fresh strawberries and cherries to top

Instructions 

Mud Cake

  • Preheat the oven to 325º F. Butter the bottom and sides of an 8 inch round cake pan or springform pan. Line the bottom with a parchment paper circle.
  • In a medium pot over low heat, combine the chocolate, butter, and sugar.  Stir occasionally until everything is melted and smooth. Remove the pot from the heat, stir in the milk and allow the mixture to cool for 10 minutes.
  • Pour the chocolate mixture into a mixing bowl.
  • Add the eggs, beating on low to combine.
  • Gradually add in the all purpose flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder. Mix on low to combine.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 70-80 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with moist crumbs.
  • Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then transfer the cake to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Chocolate Ganache

  • Place the chocolate chips in a medium heat-proof bowl.
  • In a small pot over low heat, heat the heavy cream until just before boiling.
  • Pour the heavy cream over the chocolate chips. Allow the mixture to stand for 1-2 minutes.
  • Use a spatula to stir the mixture until smooth.
  • Allow the ganache to come to room temperature before adding it to the cake.
  • Once cooled, spoon the ganache over the cake, covering the center and allowing it to drip down the sides.
  • Top the cake with fresh strawberries and cherries.
  • Slice and serve.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 455kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 84mg | Sodium: 78mg | Potassium: 179mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 654IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 2mg
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About Beth

I believe that everyone should have a go-to dessert to bring to parties! With hundreds of recipes, I'll help you find yours!

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16 Comments

  1. I’ve been seeing mud cakes trend on Instagram, and was wondering what they were! It looks delicious!

    (And KitchenAid all the way – I’d be lost without mine!)

  2. I love this cake!! It shows you don’t have to do a big multi layer cake to create a show stopping dessert!! 

  3. This looks delicious- I love the combination of berries and chocolate, and that mud cake looks so dense and fudgy :)

  4. How awesome that you’re partnering with KitchenAid! I do love my hand mixer, but my KitchenAid is essential! Also – this CAKE! <3 <3 <3 

  5. I think this would be more in line with my favorite kind of cake as well. So rich and delicious! Looks gorgeous with all the berries on top too!