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    Home » Recipes » Desserts and Sweet Treats

    Black Dahlia Cake

    Published: Jan 16, 2012 · Updated: Aug 17, 2021 · by Nicole · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Black Dahlia Cake
    Black Dahlia Cake
    Black Dahlia Cake
    Black Dahlia Cake
    Black Dahlia Cake
    Death By Chocolate Cake

    Black Dahlia Cake recipe (Death by Chocolate) | DeliciousEveryday.com

    I was excited when my fellow Sweet Adventurers (84th & 3rd, The Capers of the Kitchen Crusader, Dining With a Stud, and this months host, Christina from The Hungry Australian) and I settled on the theme of Death By Chocolate for this months blog hop.  Chocolate would easily have to be one of my favourite indulgences, as I am sure you can tell by all of the chocolate recipes featured here ( such as Mint Slice Cookies, Chocolate Orange Cake, Chocolate Pots de Creme, Wicked Chocolate Orange Cookies, Black Forest Cake and Cherry Ripe Cake, to name a few) so I couldn't wait to explore this months theme.

    Despite my excitement it took me some time to settle on what I actually wanted to make....and well, what you see here, my creation which I've called my "Black Dahlia Cake", evolved while I was in the kitchen. What started from a simple super rich chocolate cake evolved into a multi layered chocolate creation.

    When I think of the words Death By Chocolate I think of chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate.  I think we all do. So I flicked through my library of cookbooks for inspiration, and searched online, but I couldn't really find anything that fit my vision. Eventually, at a loss for ideas, I settled on the "Little Black Dress Cake" from Valli Little's delicious Simply The Best. I had my on making this cake for some time, and given this months blog hop theme I felt it was the perfect excuse....but at the back of my mind I couldn't help but feel it didn't really say death by chocolate to me.

    Add to this the fact that the cake needed an extra 20 minutes cooking time in my oven, and came out looking like the site of a meteor landing, complete with crunchy edges, I had visions of having to start all over again!  After some careful knife work, the top half of the crater was removed to reveal a flat, and insanely rich and moist cake.  So rich because it includes half a kilogram of chocolate!!!!  Now that's my type of chocolate cake!!!

    Black Dahlia Cake recipe (Death by Chocolate) | DeliciousEveryday.com

    After staring at the cake for some time knowing my vision wasn't fulfilled I decided to add a chocolate mousse layer on top.  Why have one layer of chocolate when you can have two?!  For the chocolate mousse layer l used a recipe from Raymond Blanc.  After the chocolate mousse had set overnight I then smothered the whole cake in a chocolate glaze.  Third layer of chocolate done!

    As much as I love meltingly soft cakes and desserts, I also love texture, and I felt my creation needed some crunch.  For the crunch factor I settled on the idea of chocolate lace cookies, and as the cookies cooled I wrapped them around my rolling pin to provide some curl.  The funny thing was I wasn't quite sure how I would incorporate the cookies into my final creation yet!!  After playing with the lace cookies trying to work out what I could do I placed the cookies in a circle and thought they looked like the petals of a flower.  The center of my flower was then formed with sugared blueberries and my Death by Chocolate Black Dahlia Cake was born.

    Black Dahlia Cake recipe (Death by Chocolate) | DeliciousEveryday.com

    So, after all of this how does it taste?  Well, in a word...AMAZING!!! Even if I do say so myself.  Deliciously rich and moist chocolate cake topped with chocolate mousse and smothered in chocolate glaze....it was all of my chocolate fantasies come true!  Don't get me wrong, it's rich, INSANELY rich....but isn't that what Death By Chocolate Cake is all about?

    Black Dahlia Cake recipe (Death by Chocolate) | DeliciousEveryday.com

    Black Dahlia Cake recipe (Death by Chocolate) | DeliciousEveryday.com

    Black Dahlia Cake

    Cake base recipe adapted from Valli Little's Delicious: Simply the Best. Chocolate Mousse recipe adapted from Raymond Blanc Delice de Chocolat. Chocolate Lace Cookies adapted from Martha Stewart.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Save Saved!
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Dessert
    Keyword: Black Dahlia Cake, cake recipe, Chocolate Mousse recipe
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Calories: 866kcal
    Author: Delicious Everyday
    10 slices

    Ingredients

    • CAKE:
    • 500 g of dark chocolate chopped
    • 125 g of unsalted butter chopped into cubes
    • 6 eggs separated
    • 90 g of caster sugar
    • 150 ml of cream
    • 3 tbs of Chambord liqueur
    • ½ tsp of cream of tartar
    • MOUSSE:
    • 70 ml of full cream milk
    • 160 ml of double cream
    • 1 egg
    • 170 g of 70% cocoa chocolate
    • 3 tsp of Chambord liqueur
    • CHOCOLATE GLAZE:
    • 6 oz of dark chocolate chopped
    • 1 cup of cream
    • CHOCOLATE LACE COOKIES:
    • 2 tbsp plus 1 tsp packed light-brown sugar
    • 15 grams unsalted butter
    • 2 tbsp glucose syrup
    • 1 tbsp of cocoa
    • 1 tbsp of flour
    • ¼ cup of almond meal
    • DECORATION:
    • 1 tbsp of blueberries
    • 1 tsp of cater sugar
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • To make the cake, preheat the oven to 180 celsius (355 Fahrenheit) and grease and line a 24cm spring form tin with baking paper.
    • Combine the chocolate and butter in a heat proof bowl and sit over a saucepan of simmering water and stir until smooth. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool slightly.
    • In the bowl of an electric mixer whisk the egg yolks until very thick and pale and then gently fold in the cream, Chambord or other berry liqueur and cooled chocolate. Set aside.
    • In a separate bowl whisk the egg whites and cream of tartar until it forms stiff peaks. Add ⅓ of the egg whites to the chocolate and egg yolk mixture and gently fold through. Repeat with remaining ⅔ until combined.
    • Pour into the prepared cake tin and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Set aside to cool completely in the tin on a wire wrack.
    • To make the mousse heat the milk and cream in a saucepan. As you are doing this whisk the egg in the bowl of an electric mixer until it is frothy and then pour in the milk and cream mixture. Continue to whisk for a minute before returning to the heat (turn the heat down to low). When the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon add the chocolate and Chambord and stir until smooth. With the cake still in the tine, pour over the top of the cooled cake and leave in the refrigerator overnight to set.
    • To make the lace cookies preheat the oven to 175 degrees celsius (350 Fahrenheit) and line a baking tray with baking paper. Combine the sugar, butter and glucose syrup in a saucepan over a medium heat until the sugar is dissolved and the butter is melted. Add the cocoa, flour and almond meal and stir to combine.
    • Drop teaspoon sized dollops of the mixture onto the prepared baking tray and bake for 7 to 8 minutes. Let the cookies sit for a minute before removing from the tray with a spatula and rolling over a rolling pin to achieve the curved shape. Leave the cookies to set (this will only take a couple of minutes).
    • For the chocolate glaze place the cream in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Place the chocolate in a separate bowl and pour the cream over the top and set aside for 5 minutes. Then stir until smooth.
    • Un-mould the cake and sit it on a wire wrack and line underneath the wrack with baking paper. Using an instant read thermometer check the temperature of the glaze. When it is between 95 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit pour over the top of the cake.
    • Combine the blueberries and caster sugar in a bowl and swirl to coat the blueberries in the sugar. Place the sugared blueberries in a circle in the center of the cake and surround with the lace cookie petals.

    Notes

    The cake will puff up dramatically in the oven and when removed will collapse in the center. Using a sharp knife trim the edges to achieve a flat surface for the cake. When making the chocolate glaze try not to over stir the mixture as this will cause the glaze to lose it's shine. To easily glaze the cake the temperature of the glaze should be between 95 to 104 degrees farenheit as this glaze will flow easily and glide over the top of the cake.

    Nutrition (Estimated)

    Calories: 866kcalCarbohydrates: 59gProtein: 14gFat: 67gSaturated Fat: 38gCholesterol: 222mgSodium: 178mgPotassium: 864mgFiber: 13gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 1360IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 140mgIron: 11.1mg
    Shop our Cookbooks!Check out our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks for more tasty meatless recipe ideas.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Brettly says

      June 05, 2013 at 11:28 pm

      do you consider cream half and half or light whipping cream? Im guessing double cream is probably heavy whipping cream since its used in the mousse

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        June 06, 2013 at 1:20 pm

        Hi Brettly, yes, double cream would be too heavy in this case. Let me know how it turns out 🙂

        Reply
    2. lindamaree @ my garden feast says

      January 21, 2012 at 4:33 pm

      That's an amazing looking cake! Death by Chocolate......what a way to go!

      Reply
    3. Carole says

      January 21, 2012 at 1:04 am

      One of the most beautiful desserts I've ever seen. Gorgeous photos!

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 23, 2012 at 12:04 pm

        Thank you so much Carole 😀

        Reply
    4. Sara (Belly Rumbles) says

      January 19, 2012 at 7:58 pm

      Looks absolutely beautiful, love the presentation. Also love the decadence about it.

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 20, 2012 at 7:21 pm

        Thank you so much Sara 😀 It's very, very decadent, but then there's nothing wrong with a bit of that now and again is there 😉

        Reply
    5. Ashley says

      January 19, 2012 at 1:40 pm

      Wow, this just looks so beautiful, I absolutely love the addition of the lace cookies and the blueberries on top. A real show stopper! 🙂

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 20, 2012 at 7:15 pm

        Thanks Ashley 😀

        Reply
    6. Liz says

      January 18, 2012 at 4:13 am

      5 stars
      Gosh, I'm in LOVE with this gorgeous, decadent cake! I must make it soon!!! Thanks for hosting this fun blog hop...so glad to find your wonderful site 🙂

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 18, 2012 at 9:26 am

        You're welcome Liz. Thank you so much for joining us. It's been fantastic to see all of the wonderful and delicious chocolate creations everyone has come up with. 🙂

        Reply
    7. beti says

      January 18, 2012 at 7:54 am

      what a beautiful cake it looks gorgeous!! you always have amazing photos and your food makes my really hungry

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 20, 2012 at 7:08 pm

        Thank you so much beti 😀

        Reply
    8. Christina @ The Hungry Australian says

      January 17, 2012 at 10:42 pm

      Gorgeous photos and styling, Jennifer, as per usual 🙂

      I love the chocolate flower motif - very luxe, very rich, very Death by Chocolate!

      Beautiful!

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 18, 2012 at 9:25 am

        Thanks Christina 😀

        Reply
    9. JasmyneTea says

      January 17, 2012 at 9:57 pm

      Wow, this is just so impressive, and it's definitely something the boy will love... come to think about it, his birthday is coming up!

      Reply
    10. Lau@Corridor Kitchen says

      January 17, 2012 at 4:47 pm

      Serious skill there! Looks delish...

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 17, 2012 at 5:05 pm

        Thanks Lau 😀

        Reply
    11. Iron Chef Shellie says

      January 17, 2012 at 11:34 am

      I think I died from chocolate overdose just from this post! INSANE!!! gorgeous photos

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 17, 2012 at 5:05 pm

        Thanks Shellie 😀 Yes, it is insane, insanely chocolate and insanely delicious 😉

        Reply
    12. Amanda says

      January 17, 2012 at 9:14 am

      Jen, you are so very clever. Not just with your baking and photography which are of course, stunning, but with the whole Black Dahlia allusion, too - that's just brilliant!

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 17, 2012 at 5:06 pm

        You are so sweet Amanda 😀 Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm glad you got my Black Dahlia link too 😉

        Reply
    13. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says

      January 16, 2012 at 2:57 pm

      That looks divine and look at that beautifully glossy icing! 😮 And I was just reading more about the Black Dahlia case-that was gruesome. This cake however is the polar opposite! 😀

      Reply
    14. brighteyedbaker says

      January 17, 2012 at 5:49 am

      MMM I absolutely love chocolate, and mousse is one of my favorites, so this cake looks amazing! A kilogram of chocolate... that's a ton!

      Reply
    15. jennifurla says

      January 17, 2012 at 4:58 am

      Could your blog be any prettier....probably not! What a gorgeous creation.

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 17, 2012 at 8:16 am

        Thank you so much Jennifuria 😀

        Reply
    16. Katie @ Epicurean Mom says

      January 17, 2012 at 2:36 am

      5 stars
      Black Dahlia Cake??? Sounds deadly! Just the way I like it! 🙂

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 17, 2012 at 8:13 am

        Thanks Katie 😀 It's just the way I like it too!

        Reply
    17. Jennifer Wickes says

      January 17, 2012 at 12:11 am

      5 stars
      I think I just gained a lot of weight!

      Reply
    18. anh@anhsfoodblog.com says

      January 16, 2012 at 8:29 am

      I love the shine of the glaze! This is BEAUTIFUL.

      Reply
    19. Jessy (squeezetheday) says

      January 16, 2012 at 10:04 pm

      Wow, this looks amazing!

      Reply
    20. Tenille @ My Family Table says

      January 16, 2012 at 8:42 pm

      This looks like an absolute work of art! Just beautiful Jennifer, well done.

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 17, 2012 at 7:22 am

        Thank you so much Tenille 😀

        Reply
    21. Monica (@gastromony) says

      January 16, 2012 at 8:00 pm

      Half a kilo of chocolate!? Now that is rich! If I had been on a chocolate famine for months, your cake is what I would ask for!

      Reply
    22. thelittleloaf says

      January 16, 2012 at 7:09 pm

      5 stars
      This cake looks insanely delicious - three different types of chocolate! Or is it four with the lace cookies on top? Either way it's divine and completely fits the bill for death by chocolate. Wish I could eat a slice right now 🙂

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 17, 2012 at 8:13 am

        I guess it's four with the cookies on top 😀

        Reply
    23. Miss Kimbers @ Fruit Salad and Mixed Veg says

      January 16, 2012 at 6:51 pm

      Wow! This looks like something you would see in an expensive patisserie.

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 17, 2012 at 8:01 am

        Wow, thank you Miss Kimbers. That is so kind 😀

        Reply
    24. Rosa says

      January 16, 2012 at 5:08 pm

      OMG, it looks absolutely stunning and to die for! A real beauty.

      Cheers,

      Rosa

      Reply
    25. Martyna@WholesomeCook says

      January 16, 2012 at 4:59 pm

      Wowsers! Half a kilo of chocolate! I loved the movie so had to check out the recipe - looks gorgeous! Very dark 😉

      Reply
    26. Moya says

      January 16, 2012 at 4:25 pm

      Your chocolate cake looks fantastic and I love the chocolate lace cookies on top, what a wonderful idea. Chocolate is a girls best friend!

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 17, 2012 at 8:00 am

        I agree Moya, chocolate really is a girls best friend 😉

        Reply
    27. Gerry @Foodness Gracious says

      January 16, 2012 at 3:34 pm

      Oh Nellie, this is quite the chocolate fix, I love the pic of the slice and I'm actually drinking a cup of coffee as I write this and very bummed I dont have that slice of your cake 🙁
      Awesome!!

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 17, 2012 at 7:59 am

        I'd send you some if I could Gerry. Maybe you will just have to make it instead 😉

        Reply
    28. Dressed and Eaten says

      January 16, 2012 at 3:18 pm

      This really is death by chocolate! Looks amazing. Well done!

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 17, 2012 at 7:58 am

        Thank you so much 😀

        Reply
    29. Julie says

      January 16, 2012 at 3:12 pm

      those lace cookies are too pretty to be eaten. You definitely nailed the challenge! I love mousse and cake together - goes so well.

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 16, 2012 at 8:44 pm

        Thank you so much Julie 😀

        Reply
    30. the kitchen crusader says

      January 16, 2012 at 1:00 pm

      your pictures are always amazing

      Reply
    31. JJ @ 84thand3rd says

      January 16, 2012 at 11:30 am

      I think you have taken out the 'most decadent' award already on this one! Far out, There must be a full kg of choc in that cake - excellent job - ha! Beautiful as always too.

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 16, 2012 at 1:09 pm

        Hehe I don't do anything by halves! 😉 And yes, there's a lot of chocolate, 840 grams in total!! I think I should buy shares in Lindt given all the chocolate buy!

        Reply
    32. Emma Galloway says

      January 16, 2012 at 11:27 am

      now that's what I call heaven. Love.

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 16, 2012 at 1:09 pm

        Thanks Emma 😀

        Reply
    33. tania@mykitchenstories.com.au says

      January 16, 2012 at 11:17 am

      Yes, Death after a whole slice of this decadent and gorgeous creation. Just beautiful

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 16, 2012 at 1:10 pm

        Maybe not death, but very full and very content. 😉

        Reply
    34. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

      January 16, 2012 at 10:35 am

      Gorgeous! I love that you topped the cake with lace cookies!

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 16, 2012 at 1:10 pm

        Thanks Laura 😀

        Reply
    35. john@heneedsfood says

      January 16, 2012 at 10:13 am

      One word: sinful.
      Two words: I want!

      Reply
    36. cc11 says

      January 16, 2012 at 9:59 am

      wow - just goes to show that sometimes the best things happen when things dont go the way they were planned
      stunning cake

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 16, 2012 at 1:12 pm

        So true. Often the best things come through improvisation. 😀

        Reply
    37. lau@corridorkitchen says

      January 16, 2012 at 9:03 am

      That looks AMAZING!

      Reply
    38. Nic says

      January 16, 2012 at 9:01 am

      Wow! What a lot of chocolate, but I certainly wouldn't say no to a slice or two! I love the flower decorations, they make it look so special.

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 16, 2012 at 9:21 am

        Thanks Nic 😀

        Reply
    39. Claire @ Claire K Creations says

      January 16, 2012 at 8:46 am

      Wow that is the definition of death by chocolate. What a deliciously-rich looking cake. The chocolate cookies look like chocolate pringles and I love how you arranged them. Yum yum yum!

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 16, 2012 at 9:20 am

        You're right Claire, they do look like chocolate pringles 😛 I didn't think of that. Chocolate pringles....now there's an idea 😉

        Reply
    40. Lizzy (Good Things) says

      January 16, 2012 at 8:42 am

      5 stars
      Oh now that is just beautiful!!!!!!

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 16, 2012 at 8:55 am

        Thank you Lizzy. 🙂

        Reply
    41. Kyrstie @ A Fresh Legacy says

      January 16, 2012 at 8:18 am

      Wow! Jennifer that is one amazingly delicious looking cake. One to definately add to my "Must Try" List. Thanks for sharing

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 16, 2012 at 8:44 am

        Thank you Kyrstie 😀

        Reply
    42. Michelle Elliott (@mschefkitchen) says

      January 16, 2012 at 8:16 am

      Wow! Looks decadent and beautiful photos as usual Jennifer!

      Reply
      • delicieux says

        January 16, 2012 at 8:45 am

        Thank you so much Michelle. 😀 It's VERY decadent and rich...but that's what I think of when I think of Death By Chocolate! 😉

        Reply

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    Nicole - Vegetarian Food Blogger

    Nicole is a 25+ year vegetarian, and author of a vegan cookbook. She shares her recipes on Delicious Everyday, an award-winning vegetarian and vegan food blog.  About Nicole

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