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Bird’s Nest Easter Cake
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Bird's Nest Easter Cake

Moist chocolate cake covered in a rich chocolate buttercream and topped with a gaggle of chocolate eggs. Perfect for an Easter treat.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 cakes
Calories 169kcal
Author John Kanell

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder not dutch processed
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil or canola oil, or melted coconut oil
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup freshly brewed strong, hot coffee

For the Frosting

  • 2 sticks unsalted butter room temperature
  • 5 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 5-6 tbsp heavy cream
  • 2 tsps pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2-3/4 tsp salt to taste
  • 1 cup semi sweet chocolate melted and cooled

Instructions

For the Cake

  • Butter and flour 6 four inch pans. (You can use larger pans and just cut the cakes down to size if you don't have 4 inch pans.) Preheat oven to 350F.
  • In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder and soda.
  • Beat the eggs, oil, buttermilk and vanilla together in a separate bowl.
  • Add the wet mixture to the dry and mix until just combined. Stir in the hot coffee last.
  • Distribute the batter evenly to the pans. and bake for about 25 minutes or until the centers are baked.

For the Buttercream

  • Beat the butter until light and fluffy. Mix in the confectioners' sugar, cream, cocoa powder, vanilla, salt and melted chocolate. 

For the Assembly

  • Cut the cake down into a nest shape. Cover with buttercream and smooth. Pipe "twigs" with a number 4 tip. Place the chocolate eggs in the nest and serve.

Video

Notes

  • I cut down a small cake layer to make my nest but it's MUCH faster to use a donut mold!
  • I used malted chocolates as they are larger than the mini chocolate eggs and fill the nest better.
  • If you don't want to pile all the little chocolate tubes for the nest just cover in buttercream then pat on toasted coconut for a similar effect.
  • No buttermilk? Add a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to whole milk. Mix and set aside for a few minutes then use in the batter.
  • The coffee is optional. GO ahead and use water if preferred.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5nest | Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 198mg | Potassium: 68mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 50IU | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1.3mg