Chocolate-strawberry cake disaster

This is the cake that nearly wasn't. One should never attempt a 4-layer cake and try to ice it smoothly without an offset spatula and turntable. After numerous frustrations (including a suicide attempt in which the fully layered cake LEAPT off the table and onto my beige carpet, frosting side down) I finally got it finished enough so that it was presentable, but nothing special. By the time I was done my chocolate buttercream was starting to separate, and I was afraid any more delays would doom the cake entirely.

So it wasn't the splendid birthday success I was hoping for...at least I can tell a good story when anyone asks about the chocolate carpet stains.


Four-layer chocolate cake filled with whipped cream and strawberries, frosted with chocolate buttercream and topped with chocolate-dipped strawberries.