Triple Chocolate Cake For a Celebration Day

Today marks my 65th birthday…yikes. I won’t say all the things you say when you hit a milestone like this. I will say that I thank the Lord for every day He has given me. The Psalmist said in chapter 90 – So teach us to number our DAYS that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. We’re not told to number our years because years are made up of individual days. It’s up to us how we use them or waste them, enjoy them or curse them.

This day is two birthdays in one. I trusted Christ as my Savior on my 8th birthday, making this day so full of blessings! I’ve been His child, safe and secure for 57 years. God has been so gracious to give me so many blessings, including overall good health, although the day that I’m writing

this post is Day #3 of the flu. That has cancelled one very big celebratory plan, bringing disappointment, but I read this quote while ill,

By faith, I will be at peace with Providence.
-Joseph Eliot

So on this birthDAY, God is teaching me to number illness as part of His plan. I’m learning that He is enough, that my husband is not only the best nurse a sick person could ask for, but also a huge grace gift in my life. I’m getting a fresh understanding that others are struggling with things far greater and weightier than the flu and need my intercession. I am learning not to give in to self-pity or to seek for it from others. I’m being taught how to “count it joy” when I fall into manifold trials. It’s not having a “stiff upper lip” and smiling through the fever and body aches, it’s looking at and drawing near to the heart of Jesus. It’s gaining strength from Him when I am at my weakest. It is looking at Him, rather than myself. Eternity must also be my view. How bright the future is in Christ!

So, I’m having a pretend party and if I could have any cake, I would make Triple Chocolate Cake. It’s definitely a labor of love, but if you make this in steps – bake the cake layers and freeze them one day, make the cream and buttercream another day and then assemble it, it’s a piece of the BEST CAKE you’ll ever eat! That cream mixture tones down the sweetness. Pro Eating Tip: You have to get a bit of the cake, buttercream, whipped cream and ganache all in one bite!

Triple Chocolate Cake

Bake a Chocolate Devil’s Food cake mix in two layers. I like to do this early and freeze the layers. Update – I much prefer this chocolate cake recipe to a boxed mix! You won’t regret it!

Prepare Stabilized whipped cream (recipe to follow)

Layer cream between the two layers and refrigerate overnight.

Prepare Chocolate buttercream frosting.

Ice cake with buttercream icing.

To apply Ganache:

Place the cake on a cardboard circle the size of the cake pan – not on a cake plate yet! ***Place cake on a cooling rack that is sitting on top of a cookie sheet, then pour ganache over all. (I keep reapplying the ganache that has poured off the cake into the cookie sheet below.) Let cake set in refrigerator before serving.

Stabilized Whipped cream – I make this up the day before I need it and let it set in the refrigerator.

2 cups whipping cream

2 tsp. unflavored gelatin

6 tsp. cold water

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Place gelatin in a small saucepan. Dissolve gelatin in cold water and let stand ’til set. Place over low heat just until it dissolves.

In another bowl, whip the cream, sugar and vanilla. Beat until thick (not peaks). Pour gelatin slowly into beaters in steady stream; beat ’til stiff.

Ganache

1 cup whipping cream

Place in saucepan and bring just to boil. Remove from heat and stir in 8 ounces chocolate chips and stir well to combine. Let cool slightly before applying.

I hope you’ll make this for someone’s special day or in an attempt to “number your days” well and enjoy each one that God gives you. You know what they say, Today is a gift; that’s why it’s called the Present.

Who else is a September girl?