If you’ve ever wanted to wow a crowd with a gorgeous multi-layer cake, but felt intimidated by all the steps or special equipment, this is the recipe for you. This multi-layer chocolate cake is rich, decadent, and shockingly easy to make—even if you’ve never baked a layered cake before.
What makes this cake unique isn’t just the deliciously moist chocolate layers or the velvety frosting—it’s the super simple technique. You don’t need any special cake pans or tools. All you need is a standard cookie sheet, and you’ll be layering like a pro in no time.
Each thin layer bakes quickly, stacks neatly, and creates a dramatic, elegant dessert that looks impressive but comes together with minimal effort. The result? A show-stopping chocolate cake that’s rich, fluffy, and perfectly sweet with every bite.
Whether you’re baking for a birthday, a special celebration, or just want to treat yourself, this cake is guaranteed to impress—with way less stress!
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INGREDIENTS IN GRAMS:
- For the Cake:
- 120 gr All Purpose Flour
- 30 gr Cocoa Powder
- 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 150 gr Sugar
- 5 Egg Yolks
- 5 Egg Whites
- 70 gr WARM milk
- 70 gr Butter Soft
- For the Ganache:
- 500 gr Heavy Cream
- 375 gr Dark Chocolate 50% cocoa
- 2 1/2 tbsp Cocoa Powder
- 2 1/2 tbsp Butter
- Pinch of Salt
- 7 x 11 and 10 x 16 inch pans
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INGREDIENTS IN CUPS:
- For the Cake:
- 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 4 tbsp Cocoa Powder
- 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 3/4 cup Sugar
- 5 Egg Yolks
- 5 Egg Whites
- 10 tbsp WARM Milk
- 5 tbsp Soft Butter
- For the Ganache:
- 18 ounces Heavy Cream
- 13.5 ounces Dark Chocolate 50% cocoa
- 2 1/2 tbsp Cocoa Powder
- 2 1/2 tbsp Butter
- Pinch of Salt
- 7 x 11 and 10 x 16 inch pans
- Some Recommended Products:
- 48 Inch Gas Range 6 Burners Cooktop 6.7 cu.ft Oven
- Professional Series Built-In All Refrigerator
- Mini Refrigerator, 2-Door 3.4 cu. ft. Small Compact Under Counter
Directions:
For the cakes: To the egg yolks, add the melted butter and whole milk and give these a quick mix just until they’re combined. Go ahead and add the dry ingredients, which must be sifted prior. You always have to save dry ingredients, especially if you’re using cocoa powder and if you’re making sponge cakes. Mix these ingredients together, making sure to not over-mix the batter. Sponge cakes have very little fat content, so it’s crucial you do not over-mix the dry ingredients and set them aside.
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In another mixing bowl, pour some egg whites and add a few drops of lemon juice this will stabilize your egg whites or you can use cream of tartar. Whip these up, and once they start to become foamy, you can start adding the sugar a few tablespoons at a time and continue mixing. The egg whites will start to incorporate lots of air quadruple in volume, and once they become glossy and reach stiff peaks, the meringue is ready to fold it into your cake batter.
I like to add three big dollops of the meringue with a whisk; this will loosen the mixture, and it’ll be easier to fold in the remaining egg whites. Using a spatula, pour the cake batter into baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
Sponge cakes have very little fat content, so make sure to grease the parchment paper as well so they don’t stick. You can use two different sizes of baking sheets; one pan will be slightly bigger than the other because we will be cutting out cake sponges from the bigger sheet to the smaller sheet. Just keep in mind that the bigger sheet pan will obviously need more cake batter.
Bake the cakes in a preheated oven at 170 degrees Celsius, or 340 Fahrenheit for around 10 to 12 minutes. Because we’re baking both cakes together, one cake may be done before the other. So, check them after 10 minutes; if they need more time, bake them longer. Just to give you an idea, my smaller cake baked for exactly 10 minutes and the bigger one for 12.
Allow the cakes to cool completely and release them from their pan with the help of a spatula. Cut the smaller cake and the bigger one in four pieces, and do not stress if some cake strips are bigger than others because you’ll be able to trim away the edges later on.
For frosting: Sponge cakes have delicate flavors compared to butter cakes, so this cake needs a rich and decadent frosting. The frosting we’re making today is a new type of ganache that I’ve never shown anybody.
So, to make this ganache, you’ll need to heat up some cream, and in another bowl, I have some good-quality dark chocolate, some cocoa powder. and we’re also going to add some butter. The cocoa powder, besides adding a deeper chocolate flavor, it will also help thicken. This frosting allows the cream to come to a simmer but does not let it boil. And pour it over the chocolate. Let it stand for around 30 seconds, and then start the hot cream will melt the chocolate and butter and bloom the cocoa powder.
And because this frosting has a higher cream-to-chocolate ratio than other ganache recipes, it will take more time to set up. So, do not panic if, after an hour, it’s still quite runny. you can pop this in the fridge to speed things up; however, do keep an eye on it, because ganache goes completely firm in the fridge.
What I prefer to do, and my advice to you, is to make the frosting the day before, cover it, and leave it on the kitchen counter overnight. This frosting will become beautiful, creamy, and smooth. It’s really the star of this recipe. And once it’s up, take it out and enjoy!
TIPS: Don’t refrigerate this cake because the ganache will sink completely in the fridge, and that’s absolutely not how a sponge cake should be.
Once you get to the last layer, take a hot spatula or a hot cake scraper and smooth the top. This will give your cake a beautiful shine, but if you want to enhance that beautiful shine even more, you can brush the top of some chocolate syrup.
Because we made this multi-layer cake without a mold, to get a beautiful clean presentation, you’re going to cut the sides with a hot knife. This isn’t necessary, but if you’re making this cake for a party or a special occasion, you might want to do that for more beautiful edges.
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NOTE: The consistency of your ganache will vary depending on how warm/cold the climate is. If your kitchen is really warm (For example: It’s summer where you live), you’ll need to put your multilayers cake in the fridge for it to thicken. Keep an eye on it though or the ganache will set up completely. If this does happen, you can microwave it for 20 seconds until it loosens up again. Do not refrigerate this cake.
It’s incredible how easy it is to achieve these stunning layers. Not only do I think this multi-layer cake looks so beautiful, but it’s so comforting. I hope you’ll make this one for your friends and family; they will love it.
Pro Tips for the Best Multi-Layer Chocolate Cake
- Use High-Quality Cocoa Powder
Rich chocolate flavor starts with good cocoa—Dutch-processed or dark cocoa works beautifully. - Grease & Line Your Cookie Sheet
Use parchment paper for easy release and uniform cake layers. - Cut Even Layers
Once baked, cut the large sheet cake into even strips for stacking. A ruler or cutting guide helps keep it neat. - Let Layers Cool Fully
Don’t rush the layering—make sure each sheet is cool before frosting to avoid melting. - Thin Layers = Fast Baking
Bake one sheet and slice, or bake multiple thin layers for speed. Each layer takes just 10–12 minutes! - Chill Before Slicing
Refrigerate the assembled cake for 30–60 minutes to firm up before cutting—it’ll slice beautifully. - Decorate Simply
A drizzle of ganache, chocolate curls, or even powdered sugar makes this cake look stunning with minimal effort.
FAQ – Multi-Layer Chocolate Cake
Do I need special pans?
- Nope! A regular cookie sheet or jelly roll pan is all you need to make the cake layers.
How many layers can I make?
- Typically, you’ll get 4–6 layers, depending on how thin you slice and how much batter you use.
What frosting works best?
- A chocolate buttercream or whipped ganache complements the cake perfectly, but you can also use vanilla, peanut butter, or cream cheese frosting.
Can I make this cake ahead of time?
- Yes! Bake and layer a day in advance. It actually tastes better after sitting overnight in the fridge.
Can I freeze this cake?
- Absolutely. Wrap slices or the whole cake tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
How do I keep the layers from slipping?
- Apply a thin layer of frosting between each sheet and gently press as you go. Chilling helps set it in place.
How do I store leftovers?
- Keep the cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
My ganache recipe only calls for semi-sweet chocolate and cream. I’m going to try yours on the next chocolate cake I bake. Thank you!
Donna Fasano, You’re Welcome! And Thank you too.