In order to make Noah's" Chocolate Mind Melt" (scroll down - it's the third picture) as he calls it, you will need a special pan called a dome cake mold, which we discussed here. Then in order:

The Cake

1.5 sticks butter
1.75 cups granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1.5 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups white flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
4 large eggs
1.5 cups whole milk

Cream the butter, sugar salt, baking soda, and vanilla together, about 5 minutes. Add eggs and beat well. Belnd in flour and milk in alternating thirds. Heavily grease and dust with cocoa the mold. Pour in and bake at 350 F for 30 minutes or done.

Remove pans from oven, let cool 5 minutes and remove cake from pans.


The Mousse

1.5 pounds semi-sweet chocolate
2 cups heavy cream
1 package unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp chocolate liquor
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp instant coffee
1/2 pound M&Ms

Put the gelatin, chocolate liquor and vanilla into a bowl and mix well. Heat until gelatin softens.  Let cool.

Melt chocolate in double boiler. Transfer to mixing bowl. Add cream, sugar, and instant coffee and beat together. Add geltin. Continue beating until it forms peaks. Cool in the frig for 1 hour and then stir in M&Ms. Let cool 2 hours longer and then fill the inside of the cake dome. Assemble cake.


The Icing

We seriously discussed just melting chocolate in a double boiler and coating it in molten chocolate. We may try that next time. This time however:

1 stick plus 4 ounces butter
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cuo sour cream
4 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp chocolate liquor

Melt the butter and add the chocolate, sour cream, and salt. Heat to boiling. Add to sugar and vanilla in a large bowl and beat until smooth.

Pour 1/2 frosting over the cake and spread smooth. Repeat with the remainder. Cool.