Decadent Chocolate Layer Cake

By chelyc13

While it looks like a normal layered cake from the outside, inside ther's a luscious layer of almond flavored cheesecake.

Ingredients

• FOR CHOCOLATE CAKE:
• 1 (18.25ounce) box chocolate cake mix
• 1/2 cup almond flavored liqueur
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
• FOR CHEESECAKE:
• 2 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons almond flavored liqueur
• FOR CHOCOALTE FROSTING:
• 1 cup butter softened
• 12 (1oz) squares semisweet chocoalte, melted and cooled
• 6 cup confectioners' sugar
• 3 tablespoons almond flavored liqueur

Preparation

Step 1

FOR CAKE:

Preheat oven to 350. Gread ans flour 2 9-inch cake pans.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix, liqueur, water, oil, and eggs. Beat a medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour evenly into prepared pans, and bake 28 to 30 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center come sout clean. Let cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove from pans and let cool completely on wire racks.

Place one cake layer on a serving platter; spread chocolate almond frosting over top of cake. Top with almond flavored cheesecake; spread frosting over top of cheeseckae. Place remaining cake layer bottom side up, over cheesecake. Spread frosting over top layer and on sides of cake. Garnish with candied almonds, if desired.

FOR ALMOND FLAVORED CHEESECAKE:

Preheat oven to 300. Line a 9-inch round baking pan with aluminum foil, letting edges of foil extend over sides of pan. Lightly grease foil.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add sugar, beating until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in sour cream and liqueur. Pour batter into prepared pan; bake 45 minutes. Turn oven off; leave cheesecake in oven with door closed for 1 hour.

Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cover and chill for 4 hours. Using edges of foil as handles, remove cheesecake from pan. Gently remove foil from cheesecake.

FOR FROSTING:

In a large bowl, beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add chocolate, beating until combined. graduallyb eat in confectioenrs' sugar until smooth. Add liqueur, beating until combined.