Tuxedo Cake Recipe 

I decided to create a homemade version of a Sam's Club Tuxedo Cake for my best friend's birthday. This is her favorite cake and I wanted to make it extra special for her. Our families much preferred the flavor of the homemade version to the store version. It does take a little bit of work but its nice to make something delicious for someone's special day. Especially if they are the type to appreciate homemade!
Tuxedo Cake Recipe:
Makes two 8 inch in length cakes
Cake:
-1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
-2 cups granulated sugar
-3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
-1 tsp baking powder
-1 1/2 tsp baking soda
-1 tsp salt
-1 cup strong hot coffee
-1 cup buttermilk
-1/2 cup vegetable oil
-2 eggs
-1 1/2 tsp vanilla
Sift dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add in the wet ingredients, except the coffee, into the dry ingredients. Mix until combined. Add in the coffee and mix in slowly until fully incorporated. Batter will be thin. Grease and parchment paper a bakers half sheet pan. Pour batter into the pan. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes. (Check at 12 minutes) Remove when done and let it cool completely. (Refrigerating the cake will make it easier to cut and shape the cake.)
Chocolate Mousse Layer:
-1/3 cup of hot water
-3 TBSP cocoa power
-1 1/4 cups of melted chocolate
-1 1/2 cups heavy cream
-5 TBSP powdered sugar
Microwave chocolate chips in microwave safe bowl until melted. Put hot water and cocoa powder in another bowl and whisk until fully incorporated. Slowly pour water/cocoa mixture into melted chocolate while constantly whisking. Next whip up heavy cream to whipped cream. Then add in powdered sugar to sweeten. Fold in the whip cream to the chocolate mixture to create the mousse. Refrigerate until ready to use but don't leave in the fridge too long or it will be hard to spread on the cake.
Cream Cheese Layer:
-8oz of softened cream cheese
-1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
-1 cup of heavy whipping cream
Use a mixture to combine cream cheese and powdered sugar until creamy. In a separate bowl whisk up the heavy cream into whipped cream. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate until ready to use. (Don't leave in fridge too long or it will be hard to spread)
Ganache Layer:
-1 1/4 cups chocolate chips
-1 cup heavy whipping cream
Put chocolate chips in a glass bowl. Warm up heavy cream to a simmer then pour over chocolate chips. Cover the bowl with plate and leave for 5 minutes. Uncover and stir melted chocolate and cream together until fully mixed. Ganache will continue to thicken as it cools. Don't refrigerate until you poured it on top of the cake. It will harden in the fridge and no be spreadable.
Assembly:
This make two 8" in length cakes. The cake will be cut and trimmed best when it's cold when using a hot knife. Cut the cake in half then into 6 one third pieces. Put 1 layer of cake down then spread a layer of chocolate mousse on the cake. Make sure to spread it evenly. Don't leave a mound in the middle. Add on another layer of cake. Then add on the layer of cream cheese. Again spread evenly and don't leave it mounded in the middle. Add on the last layer of cake. Pour on the ganache. Spread across the top. Top with whatever you like such as chocolate shavings or chocolate curls or sprinkles or fruit. Refrigerate until ready to eat. Slice with a hot knife, plate up and enjoy! Happy Eating!