Chocolate Layer Cake (aka Spartak Cake)

User Reviews

4.8

831 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    50 mins

  • Cook Time

    30 mins

  • Total Time

    1 hr 20 mins

  • Servings

    18 Servings

  • Calories

    636 kcal

  • Course

    Dessert, Cake

  • Cuisine

    Russian, Ukrainian

Chocolate Layer Cake (aka Spartak Cake)

The Chocolate Layer Cake, also known as Spartak Cake, consists of eleven thin cocoa-flavored layers baked individually and assembled with a creamy vanilla-flavored butter cream. The cake features a dense but tender texture with balanced sweetness from honey and cocoa, combined with a rich buttery custard cream that binds the layers together. This multi-layered dessert provides a complex and satisfying chocolate experience.

Description

Spartak Cake layers are prepared using a batter of eggs, milk, sugar, honey, butter, cocoa powder, baking soda, and flour that is gently steamed and then portioned into small balls. Each ball is rolled out into a thin, uniform circle and baked briefly to create delicate, soft cake layers. The cream involves egg-based custard combined with softened butter, sugar, and vanilla extract, resulting in a silky texture that pairs well with the chocolate layers.

The cake is assembled by layering each baked sheet with the cream, forming a tall, visually striking cake with evenly layered chocolate and creamy filling. The final dessert delivers a moist but sturdy cake with a harmonious blend of cocoa bitterness and sweet vanilla cream.

According to updated notes, the recipe's flour measurements have been corrected to ensure proper texture. Precision in rolling and trimming layers is essential for a uniform final cake.

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Ingredients

Servings

Cake Layers

  • 2 egg
  • 6 tbsp milk
  • 2 cup sugar
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 6 tbsp honey
  • 8 tbsp butter unsalted
  • 4 tbsp cacao
  • 4 cups flour

Spartak Cake Cream

  • 5 egg
  • 5 tbsp flour
  • 3 cup milk
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups butter softened, unsalted

Instructions

Spartak Cake Layers

  1. Make a steam bath by boiling water and placing a bowl on the top. Combine the sugar, egg, butter, honey, and milk in the bowl. Whisk the mixture until the ingredients double in volume.
  2. Stir in the cacao slowly, followed by the baking soda.
  3. Remove the batter from the steam batch. In small parts, add the flour to the mixture. At first, use a whisk to stir the flour in. Once it begins to thicken, switch over to a spatula. As it cools, the batter will begin to thicken.
  4. Divide the dough into 11 equal balls, they should come out to make 11 inch cake.
  5. On a floured surface, roll out each dough portion into a thin, circular layer. Measure it using a plate to ensure they are consistent in size.
  6. Bake at 350°F for about 5-8 minutes, depending on your oven. Remove the cake layer from the oven and place the plate you measured it with on top. Trim off the excess edges of the dough by tracing a knife alongside the edges of the plate. Remove it form the baking sheet and place it onto a cooling rack. Repeat until all the layers are baked and trimmed.

Spartak Cake Cream

  1. Whisk the eggs with flour together until all the lumps are gone.
  2. Pour the milk into a heavy saucepan and add in the egg mixture, vanilla, and sugar. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring/whisking consistently until the mixture resembles the consistency of sweetened condensed milk. Remove the cream from heat and let it cool completely at room temperature.
  3. Using an electric mixer, whisk the room temperature butter until it's smooth in texture. In small parts, add in the cooked cream. Continue whisking until well-combined.

Assemble the Cake

  1. Distribute around 80% of the cake cream across the cake layers. Spread it evenly and stack the layers on top of one another. Use the remaining cake cream to decorate the outside of the cake.
  2. Decorate the outside of the cake as you wish or leave it as-is. Chill it in the fridge before serving and enjoy!

Notes

  • Flour measurements were corrected in the latest recipe update to improve batter consistency, December 2024.
  • Each layer should be rolled thin and uniform; trimming the edges after baking ensures consistent cake diameter for assembly.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 636kcal (32%) Carbohydrates 64g (21%) Protein 7g (14%) Fat 40g (62%) Saturated Fat 25g (125%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g (12%) Monounsaturated Fat 10g (50%) Trans Fat 1g (50%) Cholesterol 164mg (55%) Sodium 169mg (7%) Potassium 140mg (3%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 41g (82%) Vitamin A 1267IU (25%) Vitamin C 0.04mg (0%) Calcium 82mg (8%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 18Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 636 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 636kcal 32%
Carbohydrates 64g 21%
Protein 7g 14%
Fat 40g 62%
Saturated Fat 25g 125%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 10g 50%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 164mg 55%
Sodium 169mg 7%
Potassium 140mg 3%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 41g 82%
Vitamin A 1267IU 25%
Vitamin C 0.04mg 0%
Calcium 82mg 8%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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4.8

831 reviews
Excellent

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