Ingredients
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1 1/4 cups softened butter
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3 cups sugar
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3 eggs
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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3 cups flour
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3 teaspoons baking soda
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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3/4 cup buttermilk
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1 1/3 cups boiling water
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3/4-1 cup roasted slivered almonds
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18 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
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1 1/2 cups heavy cream
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2 tablespoons butter, cut up
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4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease and flour 2 9-inch cake pans.
- Tap out excess flour.
- In a large bowl beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add eggs and vanilla extract; beat till well blended.
- Add melted chocolate and beat 1-2 minutes.
- Mix together flour and baking soda and salt.
- Add to chocolate mixture in 2 additions alternately with the buttermilk.
- Beat till well blended.
- On low speed, add boiling water and beat till smooth.
- (Batter will be thin.) Pour into prepared pans.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until tester inserted in center comes out clean.
- Let cool in pans for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Turn out onto wire racks and cool completely.
- For Ganache:Melt chocolate chips and cream together and stir until smooth.
- Stir in butter and vanilla.
- Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until ganache holds its shape and is thick enough to spread on cake layers.
- Cover one layer with a little more than 1/3 of the ganache.
- Top with second layer; frost top and sides with remaining ganache.
- Press almond slivers into sides of cake.
- Refrigerate 3 to 4 hours for ganache to firm back up for easier slicing.