Holy Yum...Best Cake Ever...Chocolate Bavarian Torte

If you are a follower of my blog (thanks, by the way!) you'll remember reading that last weekend my family gathered to celebrate various birthdays over the last couple of months.

And in true style, my mom made the birthday cake. It was heavenly. Chocolate upon chocolate, upon whipped cream, upon more chocolate. If you like chocolate (does anyone not?) you'll love this cake.

Best part? It's simple. While my mom was reading the recipe over the phone to me yesterday, I was actually shocked at how simple it is. The base is a devils food cake mix, which couldn't make it any easier.

And for all you gluten intolerant folks out there, this mix could easily be swapped out with your favorite gluten free or homemade mix, and it would be one in the same.

It is OK to indulge every once in awhile. Trust me, you'll be fine, one slice won't kill ya!

Chocolate Bavarian Torte

1 devil's food cake mix (w/o pudding)

8 oz. cream cheese

2/3 c. brown sugar

1 t. vanilla

1/8 t. salt

2 c. whipping cream

2 T. grated chocolate

Mix cake as directed. (For a healthier version, simply mix 1 can of pumpkin into the dry cake mix - trust me it works!). Bake in two round cake pans. Cool slightly, remove from pan and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

Using a mixer, beat whipping cream until fluffy. In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese, brown sugar, vanilla and salt until fluffy. Fold in whipped cream.

Slice each cake layer into two (totaling 4 layers). Spread 1/4 c. of whipped cream and shavings of chocolate in between each layer. Make sure to place the rounded part of the top layer facing up, this will help to prevent crumbs getting into the cream (you want it to look pretty on top, don't you?). Top with more shaved chocolate.

Cover and refrigerate overnight. Keep refrigerated while storing.

Unfortunately, this cake won't last long. Trust me, it tastes like a gourmet version of a Hostess Swiss Cake Roll. Except those have fake ingredients, this doesn't.

On a side note:

Check out Where is My Milk From.

All you do is enter the bar code (next to the exp. date) on your milk carton, and this website will tell you where your milk came from. In some cases it will also tell you which farm/plant it came from, but mine just brought up the state.

Ours was from New Mexico! Considering I live in Iowa, that was a little disturbing. I should be buying local.

Do you buy local dairy products? Produce? Meat?

Personally, I cannot wait until May where our outdoor farmer's markets open around here!