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O.K., the name is a mouth full, I didn’t even mention the Cream Cheese Frosting!  But, if you want something pretty simple, but is delicious and elegant, you’ll want to make this cake.  The batter will be very dense and you’ll have to spread it around the three – eight inch pans with a spatula.  It’s great for a large dinner party or celebration!!

Ingredients for cake:

  • 1 box Devil Food’s cake mix (Duncan Hines)
  • 1 box (3.75 oz.) chocolate pudding mix
  • 2 C sour cream
  • 4 eggs
  • 3/4 C vegetable oil
  • 1/3 C Kahlua

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Icing:

  • 8 oz. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 12 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 lb. (4 C) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • 3/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Ingredients for Whipped Cream:

  • 2 C heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 C powdered sugar

Additional ingredients:

    • 2 pints Strawberries, Hulled And Sliced
    • 1/4 cup Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
  • 1 jar Nutella
  • package sliced almonds

Instructions for cake:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Spray Pam for baking on 3 -eight inch cake pans, line the bottom of the pans with parchment paper cut to size.  Set aside.  Put all the ingredients in the mixing bowl.  Mix on low first, then medium speed for 1 or 2 minutes to combine well.  Place in heated oven for 30 minutes.  Allow to cool completely before going on to the next step.

Meanwhile, prepare the strawberries by stirring them with the sugar and the vanilla. Let them macerate for 15 minutes, then drain off the excess juice.

Whip the cream with the powdered sugar until soft peaks appear.  Make sure the cream, bowl and paddle are cold if you can, it whips better.

TO ASSEMBLE:

Turn one layer upside down on a serving platter.  Spread half the Nutella over the surface of the first layer.  Spread half the whipped cream on top of Nutella and top with 1/3 strawberries.  Place the 2nd layer on top and repeat with the same layers.  Top with the 3rd layer of cake.

Frost sides of cake with the cream cheese frosting, then frost the top.  Place slice strawberry in single layer with the point up, along the bottom of the cake.  Place slices of strawberry on the top in a circular pattern until top is covered with sliced strawberries.  Fill in gaps with sliced almonds on top and press almonds around the sides of the cake.  (see pictures).IMG_3156

To serve:   (Optional) Cut slice (not to thick) and place on dessert plate.  Place dollop of whipped cream, a few strawberries, and sprinkle with sliced almonds and shake some powdered sugar on top!IMG_3167