Shadow Layer Cake, Or Something Like It

Before attempting to make it, I didn’t realize that shadow layer cake is a regional specialty of New York and Long Island kosher bakeries. It’s Evan’s favorite cake, a special treat that arrives from uptown, or Best Ever bakery in Massapequa Park.  Aptly named for it’s layers of white and chocolate cake and frosting, it’s really two cakes in one, the decadent indulgence of someone who can’t decide which kind of cake and icing combo they prefer.

Being that we’re far from home, I decided I’d try my hand at making a shadow layer cake for Evan’s birthday. But when I searched for recipes online, I found none. Plenty for seven layer cake, and even tons for something called shadow cake that is not the same thing. I only found kosher bakery upon kosher bakery teasing me, offering to have one ready for me to pick up in New York.

So I called upon my memory and set about making the best replica I could.  The structure of the shadow layer cake is as follows: vanilla or yellow cake topped with chocolate icing topped with chocolate cake, followed by another layer of chocolate icing and yellow cake. The entire layer cake is then iced in vanilla buttercream. Traditionally, a chocolate ganache-type frosting would then be drizzled on top of that to create the”shadow” effect. I added strawberries instead, as I’m an advocate of fruit and chocolate and strawberries make everything look pretty. To make this, I would need to bake two cakes and prepare at least two batches of icing. All with a fickle oven and without the assistance of my poor KitchenAid stand mixer that has been temporarily abandoned in storage.

I used a hodge podge of recipes to make the final product. I went with a yellow cake, although plain white may have been more true to life. In the end it turned out as so many things I make in Israel do – good, but unexpected. It doesn’t taste remotely like Best Ever Bakery’s shadow layer cake, but I may have a new tradition to return to. Happy Birthday, Evan!!

Katherine’s Shadow Layer Cake

With components adapted from here, here, here, and the Magnolia Bakery cookbook (vanilla butter cream frosting)
Yield: 1 cake

INGREDIENTS
Chocolate Cake:
Butter
1½ cups unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups all purpose flour
3 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking soda
1½ teaspoons baking powder
1½ teaspoons salt
3 large eggs
1½ cups buttermilk
¾ cup vegetable oil
1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Yellow Cake:
1 cup butter, room temperature
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1¼ cups buttermilk
1½ teaspoons vanilla

Chocolate Frosting:
3½ cups confectioner’s sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
12 tablespoons (about 170 grams) butter, room temperature
½ cup milk, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Vanilla Buttercream:
1 cup butter, softened
3-5 cups confectioner’s sugar (or as much as 8 if you like it sweet)
½ cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

To Assemble and Serve:
5-10 fresh strawberries, quartered (optional)

METHOD
For the Chocolate Cake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter one 8- to 10-inch cake pan. Mix together the cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add the eggs, buttermilk, water, oil, and vanilla and beat until smooth. Pour batter into pan and bake until set, about 35 minutes.

For the Yellow Cake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 8- to 10-inch cake pans. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside. In a large bowl, cream the butter, then mix in the sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Add the flour, alternating with the buttermilk and vanilla. Divide the batter between pans. Bake 35-45 minutes, or until set.

For the Chocolate Frosting:
Sift together the confectioner’s sugar and cocoa powder. Add butter, milk, and vanilla. Stir until smooth and free of lumps.

For the Vanilla Buttercream:
Beat the butter, 3 cups of sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and creamy (if no mixer is available, an old-fashioned hand mixer works wonders; a simple wooden spoon just doesn’t get the texture quite right). Add more sugar as needed to achieve desired consistency and sweetness.

To Assemble and Serve:
Make sure the cakes have completely cooled, overnight if necessary. Place one yellow cake layer on a cake stand or other flat surface, flipping the cake so it is upside down (the bottom of the cake will be flatter). Cover just the top of the layer in chocolate frosting. Carefully place the chocolate cake on top, cutting straight across to make the cake even if necessary. Cover the top in chocolate frosting. Place the second yellow cake layer on top so it is even (again, putting it upside down will ensure the flat side is on top). Working with an icing tool or butter knife, carefully cover the entire cake in vanilla buttercream. Top with strawberries, if using.

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