Easy Homemade Ding Dong Cake Recipe: A Sweet Nostalgic Treat

Sweet ding dong cake brings nostalgic memories of childhood desserts that spark joy and comfort.

Rich chocolate layers intertwine with creamy filling, creating a decadent experience for passionate dessert lovers.

Soft, moist textures promise an indulgent treat that redefines ordinary moments into delightful celebrations.

Classic flavor combinations invite culinary curiosity and sensory delight.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this cake represents a perfect balance between simplicity and elegance.

Layers of decadence promise to elevate any gathering or personal craving.

You’ll find this recipe irresistibly tempting and surprisingly easy to create.

What to Know About Ding Dong Cake Before You Bake

• Indulge in Decadent Layers: This Ding Dong Cake offers a luxurious combination of rich chocolate cake, silky smooth Ermine frosting, and glossy chocolate ganache that creates an irresistible multi-textured dessert experience.
• Master a Showstopping Technique: The recipe teaches home bakers an impressive cake-making method using professional techniques like creating ganache, preparing Ermine frosting, and achieving perfect cake layers with balanced moisture and texture.
• Crowd-Pleasing Chocolate Delight: Perfect for special occasions like birthdays, celebrations, or when you want to treat yourself to an extraordinary dessert that looks professionally made but can be created in your own kitchen with straightforward steps.
• Customize with Endless Possibilities: The versatile chocolate cake base allows for creative variations, whether you want to add different fillings, adjust sweetness levels, or experiment with garnishes to make the recipe uniquely yours.

Ingredients for This Iconic Chocolate Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and tender crumb for the chocolate cake.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps create a soft texture.
• Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich chocolate flavor and deep color.
• Baking Soda, Baking Powder: Essential leavening agents for a light cake.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Buttermilk, Vegetable Oil: Adds moisture and keeps the cake soft.
• Eggs: Provides structure and helps bind ingredients.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and warmth to chocolate flavor.
• Hot Coffee: Intensifies chocolate taste and creates a moist crumb.

• Milk, All-Purpose Flour: Base for creating smooth Ermine frosting.
• Unsalted Butter: Creates creamy, rich texture in frosting.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and helps stabilize frosting.
• Heavy Cream, Chocolate: Key components for creating glossy ganache topping.

Instructions to Recreate the Classic Treat

Step 1: Prepare Chocolate Cake Base

• Warm oven to 350°F
• Grease two 8-inch round cake pans
• Line pans with parchment paper

• Flour
• Sugar
• Cocoa powder
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Salt

• Buttermilk
• Vegetable oil
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract

Combine wet and dry mixtures

Gently stir in hot coffee

Pour batter evenly into prepared pans

Bake for 35-40 minutes

Check doneness with toothpick

Cool cakes completely on wire rack

Step 2: Create Creamy Filling

In saucepan, whisk milk and flour

Cook until thick and pudding-like

Cool mixture completely

Beat butter and sugar until fluffy

Add cooled milk mixture

Whip until smooth and creamy

Fold in vanilla extract

Step 3: Craft Chocolate Ganache

Chop chocolate into small pieces

Heat cream until barely simmering

Pour hot cream over chocolate

Let sit for 2 minutes

Whisk until silky smooth

Allow to cool slightly

Step 4: Assemble Cake Masterpiece

Level cake layers if needed

Place first layer on serving plate

Spread filling generously

Top with second cake layer

Pour ganache over entire cake

Let ganache set for few minutes

Slice and serve with joy

Tips for a Fluffy Cake and Creamy Center

• Master Your Cake Mixing: Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for smoother blending and consistent texture.
• Prevent Dry Cake: Don't overmix the batter; stop mixing as soon as ingredients are combined to keep the cake tender and moist.
• Coffee Boost Flavor: Use hot coffee to enhance the chocolate's depth, creating a richer, more intense chocolate taste.
• Frosting Perfection: Whip the Ermine frosting thoroughly to achieve a light, silky consistency that spreads smoothly.
• Ganache Technique: Let chocolate and cream sit undisturbed for a few minutes before whisking to create a glossy, smooth ganache without air bubbles.

How to Store and Enjoy Later

• Refrigeration: Store leftover Ding Dong Cake in an airtight container or tightly wrapped with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Room Temperature: Keep cake at room temperature for no more than 2 hours to prevent bacterial growth.
• Reheating: Gently warm individual slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, or let cake sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving to restore its soft texture and enhance flavor.

Ding Dong Cake Sides and Serving Suggestions

• Pair with Creamy Coffee Companion: A smooth, rich espresso or cappuccino complements the deep chocolate flavors, cutting through the sweetness and enhancing the cake's decadent profile.
• Match with Berry Burst Sorbet: A tart raspberry or strawberry sorbet provides a refreshing contrast to the rich chocolate, cleansing the palate between indulgent bites.
• Elevate with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Creamy, cold vanilla ice cream creates a classic dessert combination, softening the intense chocolate notes and adding a luxurious textural contrast.
• Sip Caramel Whiskey Cocktail: A smooth caramel-infused whiskey drink echoes the cake's deep, complex flavors, offering a sophisticated adult pairing that heightens the dessert's richness.

Remix Ideas for This Cake

• Espresso Chocolate Delight: Replace hot coffee with strong espresso for an intense, rich coffee flavor that enhances the chocolate's depth.
• Nutty Chocolate Dream: Fold chopped hazelnuts or almonds into the cake batter and sprinkle additional nuts between layers for extra crunch and nutty complexity.
• Salted Caramel Fusion: Drizzle homemade salted caramel sauce between cake layers and mix a touch of caramel into the ganache for a sweet-salty dimension.
• Berry Chocolate Bliss: Spread a thin layer of raspberry or strawberry preserves between cake layers before adding the Ermine frosting, creating a fruity contrast to the chocolate.

Ding Dong Cake Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Ding Dong Cake offers a delightful chocolate symphony of moist layers and creamy filling. Rich ganache and velvety cream combine to create an irresistible dessert you’ll savor with pure indulgence.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dry Ingredients:

• 1 ¾ cups (219 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
• ¾ cup (90 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Wet Ingredients:

• 1 cup (240 g) buttermilk, room temperature
• ½ cup (112 g) vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup (237 g) freshly brewed hot coffee

Filling and Ganache:

• 1 cup whole milk
• 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (2 sticks / 227 g) butter, room temperature
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 12 ounces (340 g) semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 12 ounces (355 ml) heavy cream, room temperature

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Prepare the chocolate cake foundation by meticulously combining dry ingredients in a mixer bowl, ensuring thorough blending of flour, sugar, cocoa, leavening agents, and salt.
2. Create a separate mixture of liquid components including buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla, whisking until perfectly integrated.
3. Gently incorporate wet ingredients into dry mixture, maintaining low mixer speed to prevent overmixing, then carefully fold in hot coffee until just combined.
4. Distribute batter evenly between two prepared cake pans, ensuring smooth surface and consistent depth.
5. Bake in preheated oven at 350°F, monitoring closely for approximately 35 minutes until a inserted toothpick reveals minimal moist crumbs.
6. Allow cakes to rest in pans for half an hour, then transfer to cooling rack for complete temperature reduction.
7. Craft ermine frosting by cooking milk and flour together, constantly stirring until achieving a thick pudding-like consistency, then completely cooling the mixture.
8. Whip butter and sugar until achieving a light, airy texture, then gradually integrate cooled milk mixture.
9. Continue beating frosting, adding vanilla and increasing speed to create an ultracreamy, smooth filling.
10. Prepare chocolate ganache by heating cream until barely simmering, then pouring over chopped chocolate and allowing brief resting period.
11. Whisk ganache until achieving silky, uniform texture, letting it cool slightly before application.
12. Level cake layers if necessary, positioning first layer on serving platform.
13. Spread ermine frosting generously and evenly across initial cake layer.
14. Position second cake layer carefully atop frosting.
15. Elegantly pour chocolate ganache over entire cake, permitting natural drips along sides for artistic presentation.
16. Allow ganache to set momentarily before slicing and serving your decadent ding dong cake.

Notes

• Precision is key when measuring ingredients, especially in the cake and frosting stages, to ensure a perfect texture and taste.
• Coffee enhances the chocolate flavor dramatically, transforming the cake from good to extraordinary.
• Cooling the milk-flour mixture completely prevents lumpy frosting and maintains a silky smooth consistency.
• Whisking continuously during the ganache process prevents burning and ensures a glossy, even chocolate coating.
• Room temperature ingredients blend more effectively, creating a more uniform cake batter and creamier frosting.
• Letting the ganache set slightly before serving allows for cleaner, more elegant cake slices.

• Prep Time: 40 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 573
• Sugar: 47 g
• Sodium: 230 mg
• Fat: 34 g
• Saturated Fat: 20 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 61 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg