This has to be the prettiest Vanilla Pudding Cake I think I ever made. This cake recipe is three layers of pudding, making it into a soft cake, and a layer of chocolate frosting that is sweet and decadent.
So, here is the thing. I am a good baker. Like, pretty darn awesome if I must say so myself. Although I am a pretty good baker, I am not a good cake decorator…at all. I have never lied or mislead any of you to think other wise. In fact, most of my cakes are made in a bundt pan. I don’t have to worry about it. All I have to do is add a glaze or spread the frosting on top and BOOM! Easy, peasy, beautiful cover girl. Every now and then when I decide to challenge myself, I will make a layer cake and try to do something special to make it look professional. After a while, I decided to accept my truth as a cake decorator and became okay with the fact that cake decorating is just not my thing. I can make a cake taste amazing and look decent but you will never unless I’m in an exceptional mood, I mean never see fondant flowers, stencils used to make decorations onto a cake, or some awesome sculpture made out of…I don’t know…sugar on my blog. I am here to inspire you to get in the kitchen and give it your best shot and to reshape the idea that enjoying cooking is more domestic and subservient, rather than sexy. But hunny, I don’t have that kind of time to spend countless hours making stuff look pretty. I make things look good enough to make you want to eat and Pin on Pinterest to share with others and that is about all.
*Cake recipe partially adapted from Grandbaby Cakes.
Print3 Layer French Vanilla Pudding Cake & Chocolate Fudge Frosting
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 mins
- Yield: 8-10 1x
Description
This cake is not your average Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting! This is a French Vanilla Pudding Cake with rich and decadent Chocolate Fudge Frosting. Oh yea!
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 c. vegetable oil
- 2 1/2 c. sugar
- 3 c. flour, sifted
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 6 large eggs, 2 egg yolks, room temperature
- 1 1/4 c. French Vanilla Pudding (homemade or store bought)
- 2 tbsp. Vanilla Extract
- FROSTING
- 3 1/2 c. powdered sugar
- 1/2 c. cocoa powder
- 1 stick butter, softened and divided
- 1 1/2 c. light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 c. half and half
- 6 oz. Semi-Sweet Bakers Chocolate, chopped
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- heavy whipping cream, as needed (see further instruction)
Instructions
- Line three 9 inch round cake pans with parchment paper and set them aside. Preheat oven to 350 Degrees.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter, oil, and sugar. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients one cup at a time. Next, add the eggs one at a time along with the egg yolks. Scrape the sides as needed. Finally, blend in the pudding and vanilla extract. Once well mixed, stop mixing.
- Separate into the pans evenly spreading the tops of the cake smoothly. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool. Finally, remove from pan and place on a top cooling rack. Let the cakes cool completely for several hours or overnight.
- To make the frosting: In a large bowl, sift together the powder sugar and cocoa powder together to remove clumps.
- In a large no-stick pot, melt 4 tbsp. butter, add the brown sugar, salt, and 1/2 c. half and half over medium-high heat until you begin to see the mixture bubble along sides and boil slightly. Continue to stir as the sauce will thicken. Do this for about 5-7 minutes. Reduce heat to low and continue to simmer for another 5-7 minutes while stirring constantly. The sauce will thicken and begin to take on the form of caramel. Once thick, turn to a glass or metal mixing bowl. Stir in the last 4 tbsp. of butter and the last 1/2 cup of half and half. Finally, add the chocolate and stir until chocolate dissolves and add vanilla extract. Allow cooling at room temperature slightly, about 15 minutes.
- Add the powdered sugar mixture one cup at a time. Once all the powdered sugar mixture has been added, for me, the frosting was really thick. Therefore, I added about 3 tbsp. of cream (one at a time) until the frosting thinned out to the consistency I preferred. Allow sitting at room temperature until ready to use.
- Assemble the cake: Use a serrated knife to make the cakes even (if necessary). Place one of the cakes on a serving platter. Spread a slightly thin layer of frosting on top. Layer with another cake and spread another slightly thin layer of chocolate frosting. Finally, top with the last layer and spread a thin layer on top and along the sides. Place in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes. Remove and spread the remaining frosting on top and around the cake. Spread as desired!
Notes
- Place a wooden skewer in the middle of the cake to keep it stabilized.
- Spread a little frosting in the middle of the serving tray to keep the cake from moving.
- Prep Time: 45 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Category: Dessert
Question: I have been trying to replicate my Nanny’s Chocolate frosting for YEARS. She never let us eat it on the first day because by the second day the frosting had hardened up a bit. Man it was good, does your recipe do that?
Thank you
If you leave the cake open and uncovered there is a chance the frosting will get hard.
When using the French vanilla pudding is it prepared before hand and then added to the mix?
If you can buy it Instant that is fine, but in my recipe, I made some instant pudding and added it to the cake batter.
Stupid question but I have to ask….am I preparing the pudding according to the box instructions so that it’s wet when I add it to the mix or am I just using the dry mix?
Yes. I should’ve been more clear.
My cake fell in the middle (3) layers. Followed your recipe, frosting was excellent.
Cake was very dense and I followed recipe as stated. I usually study a recipe especially one that I have never baked. All ingredients were room temperature and oven at 350F. The cake layers were burning around the edges so I reduced the oven to 325F. I didn’t make the frosting not taking any chances on losing more ingredients (too costly). Don’t understand what went wrong and I am a seasoned baker. So very disappointing!
★★
There appears to be an uncooked, gummy area on the bottom of the middle layer in the picture
Is that how it’s supposed to come out?
It won’t come out like that. The photos I brushed the cake with simple syrup to stay moist, and I think I did too much. The second time I made it. it didn’t come ou like that.