Nutella Chocolate Cake

What You'll Need

Chocolate Cake:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• one cup buttermilk
• one cup vegetable oil
• one 1/2 tsp vanilla
• one cup boiling water
• 3/4 cup Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• one tsp salt

Nutella Icing:

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup Nutella hazelnut spread
• 4-5 cups powdered sugar
• 3-4 tbsp milk or water

Chocolate Ganache:

• 6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

How to Make It

1. Prepare four 8 inch cake pans with parchment paper circles in the bottom, and grease the sides.

2. Add all dry ingredients to a large bowl and whisk together.

3. Add eggs, buttermilk and vegetable oil to the dry ingredients and mix well.

4. Add vanilla to boiling water and add to mixture. Mix well.

5. Pour into four 8 inch cakes pans and bake at 300 degrees for about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs. I baked the cakes in two batches, two at a time, with about 1 1/2 cups of batter per pan.

6. Remove cakes from oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes, then remove to cooling racks to cool completely.

7. Make icing while cakes cool. Beat together butter and shortening until smooth.

8. Add Nutella and mix until smooth.

9. Slowly add 4 cups of powdered sugar and mix until smooth.

10. Add 2-3 tbsp of milk or water and mix until smooth.

11. Add fifth cup of powdered sugar and mix until smooth.

12. Add more water or milk until the right consistency.

13. Once cakes are cool, remove cake domes from top with a large serrated knife.

14. Place first layer of cake on cake plate. Pipe an even layer of icing onto cake.

15. Add second layer of cake and pipe another even layer of icing on top.

16. Add third layer of cake on top and pipe another even layer of icing on top.

17. Top icing with fourth layer of cake.

18. Place chocolate chips in a metal bowl.

19. Microwave remaining heavy cream until it starts to boil. Remove from microwave and pour over chocolate chips.

20. Cover bowl with saran wrap for 5-7 minutes.

21. Whisk chocolate and cream until smooth.

22. Allow to sit for a few minutes until it just starts to thicken, then pour over the top of the cake.

23. Once chocolate ganache has firmed up, top with remaining icing and sprinkles, if desired.