Are you craving a decadent dessert that's surprisingly easy to make? Look no further than this irresistible Heath Bar Cake! This recipe delivers a rich, buttery cake layered with creamy frosting and crunchy Heath Bar pieces – a perfect balance of textures and flavors that will impress your family and friends. It's the ultimate homemade cooking experience, perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth without spending hours in the kitchen. This is one of those best recipes you'll want to keep coming back to.
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped Heath bars
Instructions:
Getting Started: Preparing the Cake Batter
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Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans. This ensures your cake layers bake evenly and release easily from the pans.
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In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This is a crucial step for even distribution of dry ingredients.
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Add the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Don't overmix!
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Gradually add the boiling water to the batter while mixing on low speed. The batter will be thin – that’s perfectly fine!
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Divide the batter evenly between the prepared baking pans.
Baking the Cake:
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Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Keep an eye on them; ovens vary!
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Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from crumbling.
Making the Frosting:
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While the cakes are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until light and fluffy.
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Gradually add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, alternating with the milk, and beat until smooth and creamy. Stir in the vanilla extract.
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Gently fold in the chopped Heath bars.
Assembling the Cake:
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Once the cakes are completely cool, frost the top of one layer with a generous amount of frosting.
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Carefully place the second cake layer on top and frost the entire cake with the remaining frosting.
Tips and Variations:
- For a richer chocolate flavor, use dark cocoa powder.
- Add a sprinkle of sea salt on top of the frosting for a delightful salty-sweet contrast.
- If you don't have buttermilk, you can substitute it with 1 cup of milk mixed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using.
- Feel free to experiment with different types of chocolate bars or nuts in the frosting.
Nutritional Information (per serving, approximate):
This will vary depending on the exact ingredients and serving size. Use a nutrition calculator for a precise estimate based on your specific recipe measurements. However, it's a relatively high-calorie dessert due to the richness of the ingredients.
This Heath Bar Cake is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for birthdays, holidays, or any occasion that calls for a delicious and easy dessert. It’s a simple recipe that yields amazing results, making it a wonderful addition to your collection of quick dinner ideas and healthy meals (in moderation, of course!). Enjoy!