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Chocolate Layer Cake with Pumpkin Cheesecake Layer In the Center

by Kenya Rae August 23, 2019
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A mouth-watering super moist chocolate layer cake made from scratch with a creamy no-bake pumpkin cheesecake layer in the middle, that is both decadent and filled with warm fall flavors.

Chocolate Layer Cake with Pumpkin Cheesecake Layer

What’s better than a moist chocolatey cake?  How about a layered chocolate cake with a pumpkin cream cheese center?

I can’t think of anything better, right now, honestly.  So let’s make a cake!

The cheesecake layer of this recipe will take a bit to set.  So you can make it the night before or earlier in the day.

Making The Pumpkin Cheesecake Layer

Cream together cream cheese and sugar until smooth, with a hand-held mixer.

cheesecake layer

cheesecake mix

Add in the pumpkin, vanilla, and spices and mix again until completely smooth.

pumpkin for cheesecake la

In a standing mixer, using a separate mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream until thick.  Then stir whipped cream into the cream cheese and sugar mixture until smooth.

Spray a 9-inch cake pan with non-stick cooking spray and place a parchment circle on the bottom of the pan.

Pour the cheesecake batter into the pan and spread it out evenly.

pumpkin cheesecake layer

Refrigerate the cheesecake layer for 4 hours or overnight, and then put in the freezer for 20 minutes before assembling the cake to make it good and firm when assembling.

How To Make the Chocolate Cake Layers

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees and gathering all your ingredients.

ingredients for layered chocolate cakes

I like to gather and measure ingredients out before I start in case I don’t have an ingredient on hand I thought I did.  I can’t be the only one who mid-recipe found out I didn’t have extract or brown sugar and had to send my husband on a store run and impatiently wait??

Just me? Okay, whatever.

Do it so it just flows smoother when mixing things together then.

Then spray two 8-inch round cake pans with non-stick cooking spray and line the bottom of each pan with a circle of parchment paper.

This helps ensure that the cake does not stick and makes transferring the cakes easier.

Mix oil, eggs, vanilla, and hot water, and set aside.  Then in a separate mixing bowl whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and baking soda.

chocolate layered cake mix

Then combine the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until just mixed but smooth. Be careful not overmix.

layered chocolate cake in pans

Divide the batter evenly between the two cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

Cooling and Leveling the cake

Set the cake aside to let it cool in the pans for 30 minutes to an hour.

Once the cake has cooled, drag a butter knife between the pan and the outside of the cake.  Do this to make sure the cake isn’t sticking to the pan at all before removing the cake from the pan.

Level the cakes using a leveler to remove the curved top. Set aside.

You can toss the top, or use in another recipe like cake pops or cake truffles.

Making The Chocolate Ganache

This part is pretty simple, but you want to make sure you don’t walk away because it could go left quick.

making chocolate ganache

Heat the heavy whipping cream with chocolate chips over medium heat stirring frequently. Once creamy and smooth, remove from burner and let cool.

And that’s it!

Assembling All The Layers For Your Chocolate Cake with Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake

Start with one of the layers placing the top side down on a cake plate.

Add a small amount of ganache over the cake layer, and then add the cheesecake layer on top.

With a knife, scrape away any excess cheesecake layer that hangs over the cake.  Do this so that it is even with the cake.

Spread a small amount of ganache to the top of the cheesecake layer.  Then top the cheesecake layer with the remaining cake layer, with the top side down.

chocolate ganache over chocolate pumpkin layered cake

To finish it off, pour ganache over the cake as desired.

How To Make The Cheesecake Extra Creamy?

The secret to extra creamy cheesecake is creaming the sugar and cream cheese together until it is completely smooth.  Also, scrape the edges of the bowl to make sure it is well mixed in as well.

Does The Cream Cheese Have To Be Room Temperature?

The cream cheese being room temperature is what helps to ensure it blends well with the sugar and makes things really creamy.  Set the cream cheese on the counter a couple of hours before making that part of the recipe.

Chocolate Layer Cake with Pumpkin Cheesecake Layer

Chocolate Layer Cake with Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake Middle
Yield: 1 cake

Chocolate Layer Cake with Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake Middle

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Cooling/Setting Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 50 minutes

A mouth-watering super moist chocolate layer cake made from scratch with a creamy no-bake pumpkin cheesecake layer in the middle, that is both decadent and filled with warm fall flavors.

Ingredients

Cake Layers

  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 cups hot water
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Layer

  • 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves

Chocolate Ganache (some whipped, some to pour)

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Cake Layers

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 8-inch round cake pans with non-stick cooking spray and line the bottom of each pan with a circle of parchment paper.

  2. Mix wet ingredients and then add all the dry ingredients and stir to combine until just mixed but smooth. Do not overmix.

  3. Divide batter evenly between the two cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. 

  4. Set cake aside to let it cool in the pans for 30 minutes to an hour, and then drag a knife along the outside of the cake to make sure it isn’t sticking to the pan at all before removing the cake from the pan.

  5. Level the cakes using a leveler to remove the curved top. Toss top, or use in another recipe like cake pops or cake truffles.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Layer

  1. Cream together cream cheese and sugar until smooth, with a hand-held mixer. Add in pumpkin, vanilla, and spices and mix again until completely smooth.

  2. In a standing mixer, using a separate mixing bowl, whip heavy cream until thick.

  3. Stir whipped cream into the cream cheese and sugar mixture until smooth.

  4. Spray a 9-inch cake pan with non-stick cooking spray and place a parchment circle on the bottom of the pan. Pour the cheesecake batter into the pan and spread out evenly. Refrigerate the cheesecake layer for 4 hours or overnight, and then put in the freezer for 20 minutes before assembling the cake.

Ganache

  1. To make the ganache, heat heavy whipping cream with chocolate chips over medium heat, while stirring frequently. Remove from burner and let cool.

Assembling the Cake

  1. To assemble the cake, start with one of the layers top side down on a cake plate. Add a small amount of ganache over the cake layer, and then add the cheesecake layer. With a knife, scrape away any excess cheesecake layer that hangs over the cake, so it is even with the cake. 

  2. Add a small amount of ganache to the top of the cheesecake layer and then top with the remaining cake layer, top side down, and finish by pouring ganache over the cake as desired.

  3. Optional toppings to add to the top of the cake: walnuts, caramel, pecans, chocolate ganache, etc.

Notes

The cheesecake layer requires time to set, so it would be beneficial to make this layer the night before or earlier in the day.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn a comission from qualifying purchases.

  • Non-Stick Round Parchment Paper
    Non-Stick Round Parchment Paper
  • Pastry Scraper
    Pastry Scraper
  • Cake Leveler
    Cake Leveler

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1 slice

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 765 Total Fat: 44g Saturated Fat: 17g Trans Fat: 1g Unsaturated Fat: 25g Cholesterol: 109mg Sodium: 235mg Carbohydrates: 89g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 4g Sugar: 60g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 9g
© Kenya Rae
Cuisine: American / Category: Dessert

Pin Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Layer Cake

pumpking chocolate layer cheesecake

Other pumpkin recipes you may love:

  • Fluffy Moist Pumpkin Pancakes
  • Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate
  • Pumpkin Cheesecake Trifles
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Kenya Rae
Kenya Rae

Transparent Sharer, Mountain Mover, Lover of Good Food, and making my home pretty by building, making over & repurposing all of the things. I find the smell of cookies baking and wood being cut equally satisfying, yoga pants and a tee are my daily uniform, and multi-tasking may include putting dinner on and updating the walls in my kitchen at the same dam time! In other words, just an average chick....

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2 comments

Donnetta Gamble August 28, 2019 - 8:11 am

Hey Kenya! You have been such an inspiration to me. I hope things are well for you and the family. Just know that I am proud of you and I aspire to be my own version of you one day. Thank you for being you!

Reply
Kenya Rae September 1, 2019 - 6:32 pm

Donetta!! You are too sweet. Thank you for those kind words. You made my entire day! 💕

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Food lover, DIY-Her, and a Jill of all trades. I find fun in house projects and my kitchen. Food is fun, Home is where my heart is, and I am so happy to have you here! You can read more about me here.

Kenya Rae is a North Carolina based food and DIY online magazine that has all things “modern-day homemaker”.  For the woman who is into making her home the house of her dreams and cooks food for the soul while balancing all that life and womanhood entails.

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