Here's a delicious cake that checks every box and goes heavy on the festive spirit! This banger from Chris uses two different sponges to create a checkerboard effect – a cake design that's bound to impress your guests when you cut the first slice. Expect notes of boozy eggnog, rich cocoa and bitter coffee, with a luxurious vanilla buttercream to round it all off. Merry Christmas!
Method
For the Sponges:
Preheat oven to 175°C. Lightly grease four 8 x 2-inch round cake pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper rounds. Flour the sides and tap out any excess flour.In the bowl combine flour, light brown sugar, Granulated Sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix until thoroughly mixed, and no lumps remain. Add the cubed butter and mix on low speed until all the dry ingredients are coated, and the mixture looks like wet sand.Add the eggnog and oil. Mix on low speed until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and increase the speed to medium speed; beat for 30 seconds.In a large measuring cup, whisk together the eggs and yolk. With the whisk, carefully stir in the sour cream and vanilla extract until well combined.Add ⅓ of the egg-sour cream mixture into the bowl of the stand mixer. Beat on low speed until just combined, increase speed to medium, and beat for 30 seconds to incorporate. Repeat process with the remaining egg-sour cream mixture.Divide the batter evenly between 2 large bowls; use a scale for greater accuracy.In a small bowl, whisk together cocoa powder and instant espresso. Add and whisk in the hot water. Set aside to cool slightly.In one of the bowls, sprinkle the nutmeg and cinnamon over the surface of the batter. Gently fold in with a large spatula until well combined. Divide the batter evenly into 2 of the prepared pans (again, use a scale for more accuracy). Spread and smooth out the tops using a small offset spatula.Add a dollop of the untouched batter into the cocoa powder mixture to help loosen it up. Stir well. Add the cocoa mixture into the larger bowl and fold with a large rubber spatula until thoroughly mixed. Divide the batter evenly into 2 of the prepared pans. Spread and smooth out the tops using a small offset spatula.If oven is not large enough, bake 2 pans, one of each flavour, at a time. Cover and set the other 2 pans in a cool area while the other cakes bake.Place cakes into the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre come out clean. Note that the eggnog cakes may bake faster than the cocoa cakes. Remove baked cake(s) from the oven as they are ready.Place cakes onto wire cooling racks and allow to completely cool.While the cakes are cooling, make the buttercream.For the Eggnog Buttercream:
Whip the butter until light and silky.Pour in the icing sugar and whip until combined.Add in the vanilla extract and the eggnog, mix on low to incorporate and then whisk on high for a few minutes.To assemble:
If necessary, use a sharp, serrated bread knife to evenly remove the domed parts of each cooled cake layer.Work with one cake of each flavour at a time, placed onto a cake board or plate. Use a 6-inch round cutter or a bowl (and a paring knife) to cut out a round from the centre of each 8-inch cake. Carefully remove the 6” cake round from the eggnog cake and from the cocoa cake.Place the eggnog round into the chocolate ring and the chocolate round into the eggnog ring.Use a 4-inch cutter or bowl/cup to cut out a round from the centre of each 6-inch round. Remove each 4” cake round from the centre of each flavour and place it into the opposite cake flavour as you did with the 6-inch round.With a 2-inch cutter cut out a round from the centre of each 4-inch round. Remove each 2” cake round and place the eggnog cake into the 4-inch chocolate ring and the chocolate round into the 4-inch eggnog ring. Repeat process with the remaining 2 cake rounds.There should be 4 cake layers with alternating rings of eggnog and cocoa or cocoa and eggnog.On the desired platter or cake stand, carefully slide one of the finished cocoa cake layers (chocolate ring on the outside).With the filled piping bag, pipe concentric circles of buttercream onto the cake layer. Gently smooth the buttercream using a small offset spatula. Place the next layer on top of the buttercream, and ensure that this layer has the eggnog ring on the outside. Repeat process with the buttercream and cake layers. The cake layers, starting at the bottom, should be cocoa-eggnog-cocoa-eggnog (or, if you started with the eggnog cake layer on the bottom, eggnog-cocoa-eggnog-cocoa).Crumb coat the cake with a thin layer of buttercream. Place cake into the fridge to chill and firm up the buttercream; 15 minutes.Frost the cake with the remaining buttercream and decorate as desired.Place frosted cake into the fridge to allow the flavours to meld together and the cake to firm up; 1 hour. Chilling the cake makes it easier to slice.Slice cake with a sharp serrated knife or chef’s knife dipped in hot water and wiped dry with a kitchen towel. Repeat process with each slice made.Allow cake slices to come to room temperature before serving; 5 to 10 minutes.
