Chocolate Bundt Cake (Nothing Bundt Cakes Copycat)

Cake Ingredients:

1 devils food or dark chocolate fudge cake mix
1 large package instant chocolate pudding 
4 Tblsp dark chocolate cocoa powder
1 cup sour cream 
2 tsp vanilla
5 eggs
¾ cup buttermilk
½ cup melted butter
2 Tblsp mayonnaise
1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips and/or chunks

 
Preparation (for cake):

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Spray bundt cake pan or cupcake pans generously with floured cooking spray (or grease and flour pan).

3. Combine all ingredients except chocolate chips in large mixing bowl.

4. Mix ingredients on low speed to combine, then scrape sides and increase speed to medium-high for 2-3 minutes.

5. Stir in chocolate chips/chunks.

6. Pour batter into prepared pan (or pans), and smooth top.

7. Bake for 30-40 minutes until toothpick comes out mostly clean, preferably with a crumb. Be careful when testing to make sure that toothpick is testing the batter and not a melted chocolate chip. When done, cake should not be jiggly, be starting to dry at the edges and should spring back lightly when touched.

8. Remove cake from oven, and set pan on elevated cooling rack set over a large cookie sheet or foil.

9. Cool for 10 minutes in pan, then gently remove cake from pan and place right side up on cooling rack.

10.  Slowly spoon or drizzle chocolate simple syrup over hot cake, going slowly to allow it to seep into cake.

11.  Continue cooling cake for 15-20 minutes before frosting.

12.  For best flavor, store cake in fridge after frosting.

 
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
8 oz cream cheese, softened 
½ cup butter, softened
⅔ cup light brown sugar, packed
2 tsp. vanilla
Dash of salt
2+ cups powdered sugar
 
Preparation (for frosting):

1. Beat cream cheese and butter with whisk attachment until light and fluffy, usually about 2 minutes.

2. Add brown sugar.

3. Mix on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes. 

4. Allow frosting to sit for 10-15 minutes for the brown sugar to "melt" into the butter and cream cheese, so your frosting isn’t gritty.

5. Add vanilla, salt and powdered sugar, and mix on low to combine, then on medium-high until creamy, about 3-4 minutes.

6. Pipe icing onto cake, or spread/frost as desired.

 
Chocolate Simple Syrup Ingredients:
2 Tblsp. unsweetened cocoa
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup water

½ tsp vanilla
 
Preparation (for Simple Syrup):
1.  Heat all ingredients in saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly with a whisk.

2.  Allow the simple syrup to come to a boil, about 3-4 minutes.

3.  Remove from heat and let syrup cool to room temperature.

4.  Pour or spoon over cakes, as needed.

5.  Store remainder in fridge for up to one week.