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Chaos Rat Cake

Festive chocolate cherry cake, sculpted into a playful rat shape—perfect for holidays, birthdays, and whimsical family celebrations!
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Equipment

  • Mixing bowls, hand mixer, cake pan (bowl shaped), spatula, baking paper, pastry brush, offset spatula, knife for shaping.

Ingredients
  

  • - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • - 1 cup sugar
  • - 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • - 2 tsp baking powder
  • - 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • - 1/4 tsp salt
  • - 2 large eggs
  • - 3/4 cup milk
  • - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • - 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • - 1/2 cup sour cream
  • - 1 cup pitted cherries fresh or frozen
  • - 3/4 cup heavy cream for filling
  • - 1/2 cup cream cheese or mascarpone
  • - 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • - 1 tsp orange zest
  • - Chocolate chips for ears and eyes
  • - Fresh cherries and rosemary for decoration

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a bowl-shaped pan and line with parchment.
  • Whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar into a bowl.
  • In another bowl, beat eggs, milk, oil, vanilla, and sour cream. Mix wet into dry until smooth.
  • Fold in pitted cherries. Pour into prepared pan and bake 35-40 min. Cool completely.
  • Beat cream, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and orange zest until thick and spreadable.
  • Slice cooled cake to shape into a “rat” body and head. Use reserved cake trimmings for ears/nose.
  • Fill inside with half the cream mixture, then frost outside. Decorate with chocolate chips for features and rosemary sprigs for whiskers. Top with extra cherries.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Use any round or oval bowl/pan and sculpt as desired. Filling can be made in advance; decorate up to 1 day ahead.
Calories: 340