Best Valentine's Day Desserts: Easy Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache (+More Sweet Treats!)
These Valentine's Day desserts are sweet, flavorful, and perfect for sharing with that special someone you love! You can find rich chocolate cakes, sugary candies and confections, and fruit-filled tarts and pies on this list. If your honey has a sweet tooth, what better gift than a homemade dessert?
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Instructions
Bake Your Easy Chocolate Cake
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease and flour your 9x13 baking pan.
Mix all of your dry ingredients thoroughly (use a whisk to combine, or sift the cocoa powder after measuring). For the best chocolate flavor, do include the optional espresso powder or switch your unsweetened cocoa powder out for Dutch process cocoa.
Make a well in the center of your dry ingredients and add the liquid ingredients, including beaten eggs, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract, then mix to combine.
Pour in the 1 cup of boiling water after your batter is combined. Mix until smooth and transfer to your prepared 9x13 pan.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 35-40 minutes or until an inserted toothpick, knife, or cake tester comes out clean or with a few crumbs. The cake should spring back from the touch when done, then remove it from the oven and allow it to cool on a wire rack (in the pan).
Add the Chocolate Ganache Topping
Place your semi-sweet chocolate chips (or chopped baker's chocolate) into a heat-safe bowl and pour the cream into a saucepan. Heat your heavy cream over medium heat until it just begins to bubble.
Remove the simmering cream from the heat and pour over the chocolate chips. Allow the cream to set for 1-2 minutes, then stir with a spatula until smooth.
Set the ganache aside to thicken slightly. Wait about 20-30 minutes, then pour the ganache over your cake. Allow the ganache to set or slice and serve.
Notes
For best results, make sure to spoon and level your flour. Instead of scooping it out with the measuring cup, fluff it up and scoop it with a spoon and then level it with the back of a knife. This prevents you from packing too much flour into the measuring cup which results in a dense cake.
For the best chocolate flavor, do include the optional espresso powder or switch your unsweetened cocoa powder out for Dutch process cocoa.
To store: At room temperature, your cake can be stored in a cake storage container for a few days. You can store it in the fridge for up to 5 days, but the ganache will harden. Simply allow it to come to room temperature before slicing.
To freeze: Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap (before adding ganache) and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.