Description

This Minecraft-inspired chocolate cake combines a rich, buttery sponge with tart cherry jam and a sweet marzipan finish. It is a sturdy yet moist dessert that perfectly recreates the iconic blocky aesthetic for gamers of all ages.

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup cherry jam
2 cups chocolate buttercream frosting
8 ounces marzipan
Red food coloring
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting

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Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9-inch square cake pans.
Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar with an electric mixer for about 4 minutes until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk, mixing gently until just combined.
Divide the batter between the pans and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Trim the cake tops to flatten them. Place one layer on a plate, spread with cherry jam, and top with the second layer. Frost the entire cake with chocolate buttercream.
Color a small piece of marzipan red. Roll out the remaining plain marzipan on confectioners’ sugar, cut to fit the cake top and sides in a notched pattern, and apply. Use the red marzipan to create the “pixel” squares on top.

Notes

To achieve perfectly clean lines on your marzipan decoration, try chilling the marzipan for 15 minutes before rolling it out. This prevents the edges from fraying when you cut the block patterns. Always ensure the cake is completely cool before frosting to prevent the cherry jam and buttercream from sliding.

Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 35 mins
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American