360 grams (12.6 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature
360 grams (12.6 oz) granulated sugar
6 eggs
½ cup + 2 Tbsp whole milk
360 grams (12.6 oz) all purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
300 grams (10.5 oz) dark chocolate - finely chopped
1 tsp vanilla extract
65 grams (2.3 oz)cocoa powder
For the Caramel (makes 3 cups)
600 grams (21 oz) granulated sugar
270 grams (9.5 oz) unsalted butter at room temp (cut into cubes)
360ml (1.5 cups) heavy cream
3 teaspoons salt
For the Buttercream
10 Large egg whites
480 grams (17 oz) sugar
650 grams (23 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature and cut into cubes
For the Ganache
200 grams (7 oz) good quality dark chocolate
32 grams (1.1 oz) unsalted butter
14 grams (0.5 oz) honey
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
190ml whipping cream
For the Roasted Pecans:
250 grams (2 cups) shelled pecans
Instructions
For the Chocolate Layer Cakes
Preheat oven to 170° C
Grease, flour and line 3x 20cm/8inch round cake pans with parchment paper
Pulse melt dark chocolate in the microwave or over Bain Marie and set aside
In the bowl of a mixer, attached with a whisk attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy
Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition
Add milk and beat again
Sift the flour, baking powder and cocoa and add to the bowl, beat again until just combined
Mix two spoons of the cake batter into the melted dark chocolate bowl, stirring quickly. Then add it all to the cake batter bowl. Mix until just combined.
Pour the batter equally into the cake pans, making sure there are ⅔ full. There will be some extra batter left, I make some extra cupcakes from it.
Bake each cake for 25-35 minutes until a tooth pick comes out clean with just a few crumbs on it.
Let cool for 10 minutes and then remove from the tin. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack or cool in the refrigerator to firm up. Level all cake layers before assembling.
For the Salted Caramel Sauce
Heat sugar in a big saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon
The sugar will starts clumping and slowly melt into a thick amber-colored liquid. Make sure to continue to the next step immediately when it gets this color, over cooking will result in a bitter taste.
Once the sugar is melted completely, carefully add the butter and stir it in until it's completely melted and combined in the sauce (you may want to use a whisk here to blend it in more easily)
In a slow stream, add the cream in four additions while continuously stirring, do this carefully, the hot sugar reacts to the lower cream temperature and bubbles up.
Keep boiling the caramel sauce for an extra minute or two and remove from heat. Stir in the salt and let cool down completely before using. Keep refrigerated in a jar for up to two weeks.
For the Swiss Meringue Buttercream
Combine egg whites and sugar in a heat proof bowl and set over a pan of slowly simmering water. Whisk continuously by hand until mixture is warm and sugar has dissolved completely. Test by rubbing some between two fingers and assuring there are no grains.
Transfer to a mixer bowl with a whisk attachment and whisk starting on low and slowly increasing to medium-high. Whisk until glossy and fluffy with high peaks. About 7-10 minutes. Touch the bottom of the bowl to make sure it's not warm before continuing to the next step.
Reduce mixer to medium-low speed and add the butter, few tablespoons at a time. Mix well after each addition. If after all the butter has been added it breaks into a fluid mixture with the butter separating (looks like cottage cheese), increase the speed to high and mix until it comes together.
Add 2 cups of cooled salted caramel and mix half a minute longer. Set aside.
For the Roasted Pecans
Preheat oven to 170° C
Place the pecans on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and place in the oven for 5-7 minutes, until slightly browned and fragrant (be careful not to burn)
Remove and let cool completely. Chop pecans leaving a few halves full for decoration
For the Chocolate Ganache
Make this last, when rest of the cake is already assembled. Otherwise it might set too soon
Place chopped chocolate in a bowl and heat cream in the microwave for about 1-1.5 minutes until hot
Pour cream over the chopped chocolate and let sit for 1 minute
Melt the butter and honey in the microwave for 40 seconds until completely melted
Stir ganache with a small spatula, slowly from the center outwards in a steady round movement
Stir in the melted butter/honey mixture and the vanilla extract
Assemble the Cake
Place first cake layer on tray and add 1 cup of buttercream going all the way to the edges (I use a piping bag). Carefully straighten the buttercream and sprinkle some chopped pecans. Drizzle some salted caramel on top.
Repeat with the 2nd layer
Add the third layer and make sure cake is straight and all layers are aligned. Add another layer of buttercream on top and make the chocolate ganache. Let the Ganache cool for a couple of minutes and then pour it on the top of the cake, in round motions from the center until it covers the top completely and slides down from the sides. Use spatula if required.
Pipe buttercream with a closed star tip and drizzle salted caramel sauce all around as you like. Place the whole pecan halves on top of the piped butter cream and add rest of chopped pecans on the middle forming a little hill
Recipe by at https://www.kerenruben.com/cakes-and-desserts/chocolate-salted-caramel-pecan-cake/%20