Chocolate Stawberry Celebration Cake

Strawberries and chocolate are my favorite treat, so this year for my birthday I made this cake. It was super rich, but very moist and good. It would have been prettier if I had taken time to make cute chocolate shapes to put on top with the strawberries, but figured I would enjoy it fine without them :) If I had somewhere fancy to take this cake, I would add them.

Recipe from: Taste of Home

• 1 package (18-1/4 ounces) chocolate cake mix
• 1 package (3.9 ounces) instant chocolate pudding mix
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted

• FROSTING:
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 3/4 cup baking cocoa
• 1/2 cup 2% milk

• GARNISHES:
• 2 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted (I skipped this and drizzled ganache over the berries, but it would have looked cool)
  
• 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled

• GANACHE:
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

• Combine the first seven ingredients; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Transfer to three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans.
• Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter, confectioner's sugar and cocoa until light and fluffy. Beat in milk until smooth. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake.
• Pipe or spoon melted chocolate onto waxed paper in decorative designs; let stand until set. Arrange strawberries on top of cake.
• For ganache, place chocolate in a small bowl. Heat cream just to a boil; pour over chocolate and whisk until smooth. Drizzle over top of cake, allowing ganache to drape down the sides. Top with chocolate garnishes.