Chocolate Fondant Birthday Cake

I have been intrigued for awhile now about decorating a cake with fondant and wondering if it would turn out as pretty as they always look in pictures, etc. Watching a few episodes of Cake Boss on Netflix made it look so easy! So, since I had a birthday coming up for a wonderful sister, I decided to try it out on her cake. She had asked for chocolate mousse, but I had no experience with that, and didn't want it to turn out to be a total flop when others were expecting a tasty birthday treat!  So, she agreed to a chocolate cake with a mousse-like filling.

I used this recipe from Joy of Cooking for Sour Cream Fudge Cake. It is so moist and delicious!

3 oz unsweetened chocolate (I used 60% chocolate)
1 3/4 cups cake flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup sour cream
6 tbls unsalted butter, softened (3/4 stick)
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 hot water or coffee

Preheat oven to 350. Melt chocolate and set aside.  In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Add sour cream and softened butter and beat on high speed for exactly 2 minutes.  Add the melted chocolate, eggs, vanilla and coffee and beat for exactly 2 minutes.  Spread evenly into two floured and greased 8x8 pans or two 9x2 round pans or one 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes for smaller pans or 25 to 30 minutes for 9x13 pan.

Once the cake was cooled I filled the layers with chocolate pudding mixed with whipped cream and "dirty-iced" the out side of the cake with a thin layer of buttercream icing. Once that was set, I rolled out the fondant, which I bought at the local craft store.  It was really easy to roll out and decorate with. I topped it with pre-made buttercream frosting roses.


As much fun as it was to decorate the cake with fondant, it tastes very unusual, so we all just peeled it off and ate the delicious cake underneath! Maybe there are other brands that are tastier than the one I used.

Happy Birthday Sis!!

Linked up at: Tasty Tuesday and Tuesdays at the Table