Ding Dong Cake

Making this Dong Dong Cake was a recreation of my favorite childhood treat! Rich chocolate cake, creamy filling and a heavenly chocolate coating on the outside. If you love cakes, be sure to check out my 50 Best Cake Recipes!

Ding Dong Cake

What is a Ding Dong? It is a treat that we were often given as kids.  Basically a chocolate whoopie pie with a glorious cream filling. I have modified it to be a cake and it’s heavenly!

This cake is one of those cakes that works perfectly as one. The ganache on its own is a bit bitter (when using semi-sweet chocolate), the filling is light and wonderful but does not stand alone like a pudding or sweet frosting, and the cake is just chocolate perfection. But these three elements work together in perfect harmony to create a cake that you will never forget.

4.72 from 195 votes

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Ding Dong Cake

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

40 mins

Total Time

1 hr

 

Making this Dong Dong Cake was a recreation of my favorite childhood treat! Rich chocolate cake, creamy filling and a heavenly chocolate coating on the outside.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chocolate cake, ding dong cake, ermine frosting

Servings: 12

Author: Amanda Rettke

Ingredients

CHOCOLATE CAKE

• 1 3/4 cup (210g) all-purpose flour
• 2 cup (400g) granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup (90g) good unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 cup (240g) buttermilk, room temperature
• 1/2 cup (112g) vegetable oil
• 2 extra-large eggs room temperature
• 2 tsp. McCormick pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup (237g) freshly brewed hot coffee

FILLING

• 5 tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup (2 sticks or 226g) butter
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar

GANACHE

• 16 oz semi-sweet chocolate chopped fine (can use milk chocolate)
• 16 oz (2 cups) heavy cream room temperature

Instructions

CHOCOLATE CAKE

1. Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl and mix until combined.
2. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
4. Pour the batter into two 8-inch x 3-inch round prepared pans and bake for 30-40 minutes at 350°F, until a cake tester or toothpick comes out mostly clean (not wet).
5. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

FILLING

1. Pour cold milk into a small saucepan. Before turning on the heat, whisk in flour so no lumps remain.
2. Turn heat on to medium-low and heat until mixture is thick, like a roux, stirring the whole time.
3. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and let cool completely.
4. Cream together butter and sugar on medium-high speed, until fluffy, about 8 minutes.
5. Add in the milk mixture and beat again until mixture resembles a whipped cream.

GANACHE

1. Heat the heavy cream in a quart-sized, microwavable container and microwave for 3 to 4 minutes on high, or until it just begins to simmer. Be careful not to allow the cream to boil over. Pour the cream over the chopped chocolate and let stand for at least 2 minutes so that it can thicken.
2. (Ganache should be cool when pouring over cake)
3. When ready to pour over chilled cake, whisk the ganache until smooth and then pour. You may have some ganache left over.

Recipe Video

How to Make a Ding Dong Cake

Chocolate Cake

Start by making the chocolate cake. (Full directions in the printable recipe card above.) You will sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl and mix until combined. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. In the bowl of a stand mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With the mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

Pour the batter into two 8-inch x 3-inch round prepared pans (and 8-inch pan with short sides may cause an overflow in your oven! Be sure you have the proper pans.) and bake for 30-40 minutes at 350°F, until a cake tester or toothpick comes out mostly clean (not wet). Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

Ding Dong Cake Filling

Some of you experienced bakers recognized this filling immediately! It’s also known as an Ermine frosting. This frosting has a few extra steps compared to a traditional American buttercream, but the result is well worth it. Subtle and creamy, it is the PERFECT filling for this beyond rich cake.

To Make the Filling:

Pour cold milk into a small saucepan. Before turning on the heat, whisk in flour so no lumps remain. Turn heat on to medium-low and heat until mixture is thick, like a roux, stirring the whole time. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and let cool completely. Cream together butter and sugar on medium-high speed, until fluffy, about 8 minutes. Add in the milk mixture and beat again until the mixture resembles whipped cream.

How to Make Chocolate Ganache

Heat the heavy cream in a quart-sized, microwavable container and microwave for 3 to 4 minutes on high, or until it just begins to simmer. Be careful not to allow the cream to boil over! Pour the cream over the chopped chocolate and let stand for at least 2 minutes so that it can thicken. (Ganache should be cool when pouring over cake)

When ready to pour over chilled cake, whisk the ganache until smooth and then pour. You may have some ganache left over! Feel free to use the remaining on ice cream or brownies.

Tips for Ding Dong Cake

The chocolate cake in this recipe is my Perfect Chocolate Cake. The batter is very runny and it is designed to be made in two 8-inch by 3-inch round cake pans. A few of you have commented that when you made this Ding Dong Cake the batter spilled over, and I have never been able to replicate that in my kitchen. If you prefer you can use 9-inch round cake pans but the layers will not be as thick as you see in my pictures.

I just want you to know that I absolutely read comments and try to address all concerns! The majority has had no issues with the recipe and therefore I am not making any changes to it at this time.

Can you freeze Ding Dong Cake?

Yes! I recommend slicing the cake into individual pieces and then wrapping them in plastic wrap. That can get messy, so one way to make it easier is to chill the entire cake prior to cutting and wrapping. Then place pieces in freezer-safe storage bags and freeze for up to 3 months. When you are ready to thaw, remove the slice from the refrigerator and remove from plastic. Allow to come to room temperature on the counter.

This is a fantastic Ding Dong Cake and a lovely way to celebrate with friends and family!

Like this cake? Check out my Peanut Butter Ding Dong Cake!