Best-Ever Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake

This cake was made for two ladies in my department to celebrate their November birthdays.  They both ♥ chocolate cake.  I wanted to find a simple and tasty recipe.  I get the Kraft Foods emails each month and this one came up in October. 

   

   

Best-Ever Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake

  

1 pkg. (8 squares) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided
1 pkg. (2-layer size) chocolate cake mix
1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
4 eggs
1 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup water
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping (Do not thaw)
2 Tbsp. PLANTERS Sliced Almonds

Directions
Heat oven to 350°F.

Chop 2 chocolate squares. Beat cake mix, dry pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, oil and water in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Stir in chopped chocolate. Pour into 2 (9-inch) round pans sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake 30 to 35 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min. Loosen cakes from sides of pans. Invert onto wire racks; gently remove pans. Cool cakes completely.

Microwave COOL WHIP and remaining chocolate squares in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 1 min. Let stand 15 min. to thicken.

Stack cake layers on plate, filling and frosting with COOL WHIP mixture. Sprinkle with nuts. Keep refrigerated.  The fudge-like texture of this cake improves when it is stored overnight in the refrigerator.

Tips
Prepare using JELL-O Chocolate Fat Free Sugar Free Instant Pudding, BREAKSTONE'S Reduced Fat or KNUDSEN Light Sour Cream and COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping.

Source:  Kraftrecipes.com

The verdict:
Good

1. It was very moist.
2. Loved the almonds on top of the cake. I used a 1/2 cup of slivered almonds instead of 2 Tbsp of sliced almonds.
3. I will make again.

Bad

1. The two squares didn't seem like enough chocolate. I should have added an extra square.
2. I didn't care for the Cool Whip Topping. When mixed with the remainder of chocolate squares, I didn't get the consistency that I wanted. I allowed it to cool for a long time and it still didn't get any thicker. I used container frosting instead.
3. I should have gotten the sliced almonds instead of slivered.

Quick Decorating Tip: The cake was placed on a glass cake stand and set in the middle of a fall wreath. Using the wreath around the stand made it a beautiful centerpiece.