This Triple Layer Chocolate Marzipan Cake is pure decadence! And highly addictive. Three thick layers of rich almond-chocolate cake stacked with dark chocolate ganache and marzipan… topped with cake truffles. Well, I admit, this is not exactly the right cake for anyone trying to drop those holiday pounds but trust me, it’s worth it.
My aunt used to make this cake for my cousin’s birthday every year, without the layers and without the frosting. I took her recipe, which I absolutely loved from the day I tasted it, and turned it into one of the best cakes you can probably make when the weather starts to turn grey. Well, not just then, but it is truly comforting when the cold season starts and makes a great Thanksgiving or christmas dessert…
Triple Layer Chocolate Marzipan Cake
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: Melina Thompson
Serves: 12
INGREDIENTS
FOR THE CAKE:
- 2 sticks butter, room temperature
- 150 g (2/3 cups) light brown sugar
- 100 g (1/2 cup) white sugar
- 6 eggs
- 200 g (7 oz) ground almonds
- 120 g (1 cup) flour
- 200 g (7 oz) chopped dark chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons almond extract
- Marzipan
FOR THE GANACHE:
- 16 oz dark chocolate chips (Ghirardelli 60%)
- 1 stick butter
- ¼ cup heavy cream
INSTRUCTIONS
GANACHE:
- Melt the chocolate and butter over a double boiler. Stir in cream until smooth. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease three 5 inch cake pans.
CAKE:
- Cream the butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time.
- Add the almond extract and keep beating for another 2-3 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, chopped chocolate, cocoa powder, and almonds.
- With your mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until incorporated. In order to not overbeat the batter, start to incorporate the ingredients by hand after about 1 minute.
- Spread the batter evenly amongst the cake pans and bake for 50-55 minutes.
- Let the cakes cool down completely. Once they are cooled down, cut the tops off to make the layers even. Save the cake tops!
ASSEMBLY:
- Roll out the marzipan and cut out two 5 inch layers. Set aside.
- Spread the chocolate ganache on the first cake layer, cover with marzipan, spread ganache on top of the marzipan, and top with the second cake layer. Repeat this for the second cake layer.
- Crumb coat the layered cake with ganache to lock in all the crumbs before you apply your final layer. Just apply a thin layer of ganache all around the cake and on top. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes until the chocolate ganache has hardened.
- Now add your final layer of ganache. In case the ganache is too hard, put it back on a double boiler for a minute. Make sure not to melt the chocolate all the way.
- Now crumble your cake tops and add some of the chocolate ganache. Mix it well with your hands and form little balls. Refrigerate the truffle balls, then roll in cocoa powder. Decorate them on your cake.
Oh my, that looks amazing. Just woah. Hungry now.
wow it’s lovely and delicious looking!
Thank you! It really is sooo delicious 😉
Im so glad I found your blog (I think it was via Pinterest..lol) Your cakes are beautiful!! Going to take some time to explore your recipes 😉
Feel free to visit my Blog too: http://www.flavoursandfrosting.blogspot.com
Take care! You have a new follower 🙂 Xx
This is just incredible. What else can I say? Pleaaassseee make more!
I made this. It was perfect, and it changed my life.
Haha, wow, that is a great compliment, honestly, it changed mine too 😉 Thank you!
I’m in the UK and wondered how many grams you mean by a stick of butter? 125g? I want to make sure the amount of ganache I make covers the cake! Nothing worse than not enough icing! The cake looks delicious! 🙂
Hi Jenny, one stick of butter is exactly 113g. You can round it up to 120, that would not hurt, to make it easy 🙂
Thinking about making this today for my mother’s birthday!
How many ounces of marzipan do you use per layer?
I’ve made this twice now. Once for a birthday party and once for my husband and omg, LOVE IT. I will for sure make this again!
I am so happy to hear that, Tabby!
I love chocolate, love marzipan and love almonds so this is the perfect cake for me. Just swapped the frosting for another chocolate buttercream recipe, turned out Soooo good!! Love this.
That should work just fine 😉
5 stars 😉
Thank you Ashley!
thanks for the recipe!
you’re so welcome, I hope you enjoyed it 🙂
S R flour or plain flour?
I want yo make this! how much marzipan do I need?
How much marzipan?
Hi looking to help a friend make this for her husband! Is t self raising flour or plain?
Also could it be made in 2 larger baking pans e.g.7 inch and if so what would the cooking time be?
Only hope ours looks half as good as yours!!!