Sourdough Cookies & Cream Heart Cake

Directions

1. Cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 6 inch cake pans, line with parchment and butter again. Dust the pans with cocoa powder or granulated sugar. Mix together the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the egg, vegetable oil, vanilla, sourdough starter, and milk and mix gently with a whisk to combine. Do not over mix. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula. Finally, slowly add in the hot coffee while mixing. Batter will be quite thin, but that’s how it supposed to be. Divide the batter between the two pans evenly, and bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out with a few crumbs. Allow to cool on a wire rack before removing from the pans.
2. Buttercream: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the sugar and egg whites. Heat over a pot of simmering water, whisking the mixture constantly so the eggs do not cook. You want the sugar to dissolve completely, and the mixture should be warm to the touch (make sure there is no grit between your finger tips at all from the sugar, it should be smooth). Immediately beat the mixture on medium high with the whisk attachment. Increase the speed to high, and beat until it is completely cool and a stiff peaked meringue forms (5-10 minutes). Switch to the paddle attachment, and slowly incorporate the butter one tablespoon at a time. You can use 340 grams (12 ounces) of butter for a more meringue-y consistency, or the full 454 grams (16 ounces) will be more buttery (duh haha). Depending on how cold your mixture vs butter are, you may need to heat the mixture again (if it starts to look curdled, heat it & beat it. If it’s soupy, refrigerate it and then beat again). Once the buttercream is the right consistency, beat in the salt and vanilla.
3. Cookies n Cream filling: You will need to slice about 1/4 inch of cake off the tops of each cake to level them. Then slice each cake in half to create a total of 4 layers. Set aside. Mix together 1-2 cups of your prepared buttercream with a piece of the chocolate cake to create a cookies and cream flavored filling.
4. Assemble: Color the remaining buttercream as desired for decorating. Fill and crumb coat the cake. Chill for 15-20 minutes. Using a serrated knife, gently mark the top of the crumb coated cake with an X across the middle of it as if you were to cut it into quarters, but don't cut through. Follow the diagram (or see my video) to make the appropriate cuts. Then move the two round pieces in place to create a heart shape. Finish with the remaining frosting, and decorate as desired.