Dense, fudgy, and towering with three impressive layers, this milk chocolate brownie cake brings the best of both dessert worlds to your table. You'll love how the sturdy crumb holds up beautifully to stacking and frosting, making it a reliable centerpiece for any celebration. The batter mixes up smoothly and bakes into rich, tender tiers that deliver pure chocolate nostalgia. It's a guaranteed hit that won't leave you stressing over complicated baking techniques.
Prep
30 min
Cook
35 min
Total
2 hr 0 min
Servings
16
Course
Dessert
Ingredients
150g milk chocolate
150ml double cream
340g good-quality milk chocolate, melted
400g unsalted butter
500g icing sugar
6 eggs
220g plain flour
450g icing sugar
225g unsalted butter
4 tablespoons semi-skimmed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
3 x 18cm round shallow loose-bottomed cake tins
1. Before making the cakes, put the chocolate and cream into a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Once the chocolate has melted, stir to combine, remove from the heat and leave at room temperature for a bit to firm up.
Instructions
1Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan or gas mark 4). Arrange the oven racks near the center so the cakes have room to rise.
2Coat three 18cm round cake pans with butter or oil. Line the bottoms with circles of buttered baking parchment to prevent sticking.
3Place the milk chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water directly. Melt until smooth, then set aside to cool slightly. Cooling prevents the hot chocolate from scrambling the eggs later.
4Beat the butter and icing sugar together until pale and fluffy. Mix in the eggs one by one, beating thoroughly after each addition. Slowly incorporate the plain flour and mix until the batter is completely smooth.
5Pour the cooled, melted chocolate into the batter in a slow, steady stream. Stir until fully incorporated and the color is uniform.
6Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until set. Let the cakes cool completely in their pans before turning them out. They need this resting time to firm up.
Notes
Ganache topping: Melt 150g milk chocolate with 150ml double cream in a heatproof bowl over simmering water. Stir until smooth, then let it sit at room temperature to firm up before spreading.
Storage: Keep the baked, unfrosted cake layers wrapped tightly in plastic wrap at room temperature for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to a month.
Microwave melting: If you prefer not to use a double boiler, melt the chocolate in the microwave on low power in 20-second bursts, stirring well in between.