Pls help me finish this chocolate cake I really can't bake ...

[Tinkerbellx]

So I've made 2 chocolate cakes ( I mean two halves in the oven ) . Hoping they're cooked in the middle because I really cannot bake .
They're out now and have huge peaks like a mountain .
Skewer is dry .
Do I trim the top off with a knife I take it ?
I need this cake for a birthday Fri night so any tips please on what to put between the two halves and then on top of the cake to make it really yummy but easyish to do would be lovely .
I was thinking some sort of covering that I could maybe top with chocolate buttons and / or hundred and thousands or something ???
I have butter and sugar and icing sugar and dark chocolate ect but butter icing in between and on top is a bit sickly .
It's become a family joke that I can't make a cake so I'd really like it to be nice and would appreciate any advice .
Thank you x

[GreenTulips]

Get som ready made soft cheese icing - or look it up - Philadelphia icing sugar and layer it between and on top - it takes the sweetness away

Yes you can trim it

Yes to a simple topping - buttons or smarties or even a flake

[GreenTulips]

You can always add a bit of bailies for an extra a kick

[sirmione16]

Wait until it's completely cooled to cut!!! It'll deflate a little after being cooled so don't get too eager with the knife otherwise it'll pit in the middle. :)

[PrincessTwilightStoleMyToddler]

I would trim the cakes. Don’t necessarily need to be perfectly flat but do even then up a bit. And ice with the base at the top so you have a totally flat top. I would do coffee buttercream in the middle. Not as cloyingly sweet as eg chocolate buttercream would be. You’ll just need your icing sugar and butter, and either some espresso or a teaspoon of instant dissolved in about a shot of boiling water. Make the buttercream first and add the coffee to taste. Alternatively I have had good results by mixing pre-made fudge sauce with whipped cream as a cake filling. That is delicious but won’t keep as well as buttercream. Should be fine to do tomorrow for Friday though.

For the top if you do coffee icing in the middle I probably would do it on top too and then decorate with minstrels (because they are all one colour they look more grown up, because they are shiny they look smarter than buttons). If you do the fudge cream then I would do a chocolate buttercream (thin layer) for the top and sides made with icing sugar butter and cocoa power and then do a chocolate ganache (just cream and chocolate) on the top/dripping down the sides. Really really easy but looks special. If you google “chocolate drip cake” there are loads of images that might give you ideas. Good luck!

[PrincessTwilightStoleMyToddler]

Or raspberry cream in the middle, dark choc ganache on top, and then add a pile of fresh raspberries to the top just before serving.

[mumslave]

I’m an avid baker and frazzled mother, so have got the “looks impressive, took little effort” thing off to an art now. Of course it depends on what flavours you like, but this is what I would do for a low effort/skill ‘wow’ cake:

• trim the peaks off your cakes with a serrated knife
  
• put one cake bottom down on a plate/cake board and spread some raspberry jam on it
  
• mix up some buttercream using 1 part salted butter to 2 parts icing sugar (for a 7/8 inch cake 100g butter/200g icing sugar should suffice). Beat it until it’s really soft and pale then add a teaspoon of vanilla extract and a tablespoon of full fat cream cheese (takes the edge off the sweetness and makes it smoother and easier to spread)
  
• spread the icing onto the second cake on the side you trimmed, then flip it over to sandwich the two halves together.
  
• put 6-8 tablespoons of icing sugar in a bowl (you might need more for a larger cake) and add 1-2 tablespoons of cocoa. Add a trickle of cold water and mix to combine. You may need to mix hard to remove lumps. Keep adding trickles of water until the icing is thick but runny (same kind of consistency as melted chocolate), then pour it over the top of the cake all in 1 go, spread it out to the sides with a damp palette knife if need be.
  
• don’t worry about any drips going down the side - looks better that way.
  
• to decorate the top, buy a little tube of freeze dried raspberry pieces (£2 in Saino’s) and sprinkle them in a ⭕️ around the outer edge of the top cake.
  
• hey presto, all done and everyone will think you’re a cake genius!
  

Good luck OP...maybe this will be the start of your baking future. Next stop GBBO!!