To make a cake look like it's made out of chocolate, you can follow these tips and techniques for a deliciously chocolatey appearance:
Use Chocolate Cake: Start with a chocolate cake recipe as your base. This will ensure the cake's actual flavor matches its appearance.
Chocolate Frosting: Coat the cake with a rich and smooth chocolate frosting. You can use buttercream, ganache, or a chocolate cream cheese frosting, depending on your preference.
Layering: If your cake is a multi-layered cake, ensure that each layer has a generous amount of chocolate frosting between them, creating beautiful dark layers.
Chocolate Shavings: Top the cake with chocolate shavings or curls. You can create these by running a vegetable peeler along the edge of a chocolate bar, or use a grater for smaller shavings. Sprinkle the shavings on top of the cake or around the sides for an elegant look.
Cocoa Powder: Dust the top of the cake with cocoa powder. This will give the cake a deep, chocolatey color and add a touch of bitterness that complements the sweetness of the frosting.
Chocolate Decorations: Consider adding chocolate decorations like chocolate-dipped strawberries, chocolate truffles, or molded chocolate shapes on top of the cake. These will not only enhance the chocolate theme but also add a touch of elegance.
Chocolate Drizzle: If you want to add a decadent touch, drizzle melted chocolate or chocolate ganache over the top and sides of the cake. This creates a beautiful visual effect and intensifies the chocolatey appearance.
Chocolate Fondant: If you have experience working with fondant, you can cover the cake with chocolate-colored fondant. This will create a smooth and polished appearance, similar to a chocolate bar.
Chocolate Theme Decorations: Use chocolate-themed cake toppers, such as chocolate letters spelling out "chocolate," chocolate bars, or cocoa beans made from fondant or modeling chocolate, to reinforce the theme.
Remember to taste as you go and adjust the sweetness and intensity of the chocolate elements to your preference. With these techniques, you'll have a cake that not only looks like it's made out of chocolate but also tastes like a chocolate lover's dream. Enjoy!