Marble-Chocolate Fudge Shower Cake

Nothing says "Baby Shower" like a shower. I'm not talking about rains, I'm talking about a real honest to goodness shower... or at least a cake version of one.  For the baby shower I created this three to four layer cake complete with rubber duckies and a cardboard subway tile shower wall, and of course the aluminum foil faucets and fixtures can't be over looked as well.  

• Marble Cake Ingredients:
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups Sugar
• 6 eggs, room temperature
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 3 and 1/2 cups flour
• 4 Tsp (or 1 Tbsp and 1 Tsp) baking powder
• 1 and 1/3 cups buttermilk
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 3 Tbsp boiling water

Marble Cake

Cake Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, generously butter a 9x12 inch cake pan set it aside to pour the cake batter into. In a large bowl beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla and add eggs, one at a time, beating until fully combined after each addition. In a separate bowl sift together the flour and baking powder and add to egg mixture in small batches, alternating with buttermilk. Set aside approximately 2/3 of the batter. In a separate bowl mix cocoa and boiling water mixing till it is smooth and combine with the remaining 1/3 of cake batter stirring until it is well combined. Spoon cocoa mixture and the reserved cake batter, alternating spoonfuls To create the swirly look or the "marbling" run a butter knife through the batters in a swirling motion. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean. 

When baking the cakes cut a piece of wax paper the size of the bottom of the pan and place it in the bottom after greasing the pan. Pour the cake batter in and bake. The wax paper works as a liner so when the cake cools and you're ready to pop it out of the pan merely run a knife around the edges and turn upside down the cake will come right out. Just don't forget to peal the wax paper off the bottom of the cake. 

Filling Ingredients: 

4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 and 1/2 cups cocoa
1 cup boiling water 
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 tablespoon vanilla

Filling Directions:
Combine sugar and cocoa blend in butter and  boiling water, add in vanilla.  let cool a little and then fill between layers of cake.

The is rich and moist but the filling is the crowning piece, it is sweet and exceptionally rich so use sparingly, sometimes less truly is more. However like all creations, it is completely and totally at your own taste and discretion. 

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 4 ounces unsalte butter, softened
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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• Frosting Directions:
• In a large bowl, beat together the butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer. With the mixer on low speed, add the powdered sugar a cup stopping occasionally to scrape the sides and the bottom  continue adding powdered sugar  until smooth and creamy. Beat in the vanilla extract and frost. 
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