Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup carob powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 cup milk (I used almond, use what you love!)
Pudding
- 3 cups water, divided
- 2 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 cup carob powder
- Scant 2/3 cup cornstarch
- 5 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cubed
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Frosting
- 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- ¼ cup carob powder
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1–2 tablespoons milk, if necessary
Instructions
- Make the cake. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter 2 8 or 9 inch cake pans. Line the bottom with parchment and butter the parchment.
- Cream the butter, oil, and sugar until light and fluffy. I did this by hand, but a hand or stand mixer will work as well. Add the eggs one at a time, making sure each is mixed in before adding another.
- Beat in the vanilla, carob, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour and milk alternately, beginning and ending with the flour.
- Divided batter between the two pans and bake for about 25 minutes, until set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs. Cool in pans about 15 minutes, before carefully inverting onto plates to cool completely.
- Make the pudding. In a large saucepan, bring 2 ½ cups water, sugar, honey, and carob to a boil, whisking occasionally. Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together cornstarch and remaining ½ cup of water. Once the sugar mixture comes to a boil, whisk in the cornstarch mixture.
- Bring to a boil and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens substantially, 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter one piece at a time, followed by the vanilla. Pour into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow to chill until completely cool.
- Make the frosting when ready to assemble the cake. Beat butter and sugar using a hand or stand mixer until light and fluffy. Add carob and vanilla and beat until fluffy and combined. My frosting was creamy and spreadable at this point, but if yours is not, add milk 1 tablespoon, at a time until it is.
- Assemble the cake. Slice once of the cakes in half horizontally. Place on a cake stand. Cover with a generous amount of pudding. Place the other half of the cake on top. Cover that with a generous amount of pudding. Slice the other cake in half horizontally. Place the nicer of the two halves on top. Cover the cake with the frosting. I poured some additional pudding on top too.
- Take the final, unused layer of cake and crumble it up with your hands. Push the crumbs into the frosting on the top and sides of the cake. Refrigerate for at least two hours before serving. Cake may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Half Baked Harvest
Additional chilling time is necessary
- Prep Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 50 minutes