Chef Bill Baumann of Ward’s House of Prime

The winter holidays are not a time to count calories, but instead to think of hearty meals like those found at Ward’s House of Prime. Known for its Prime Rib, flatbreads and unique pasta dishes, Ward’s also has an array of decadent desserts to top off your meal.

Executive Chef Bill Baumann shared his recipe for Ward’s Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting with ThirdCoast Digest as part of our Winter Warmers series, in which top Milwaukee chefs share their favorite cold-weather recipes that you can make at home.

The cake itself contains no dairy, relying on vegetable oil and vinegar for it’s luxurious creaminess. The addition of the cream cheese frosting takes this over the top and earns it a place on your holiday party table.

Baumann adapted the recipe from his grandmother’s “Wacky Cake,” a family classic.

“My family came to the restaurant for dinner and I served them the cake for desert,” Baumann recalls. “They tasted it and immediately asked the server if this was Wacky Cake. They had been eating it for years and recognized it right away.”

Don’t be intimidated by making a cake from scratch. It takes the same amount of work to prepare a box mix and open a can of frosting, but the results aren’t nearly as satisfying as this decadently moist, German-Chocolately dessert.

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Ward’s House of Prime Chocolate Cake w/Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

This recipe make two 12-inch layers. If making this for a small family party, halve the recipe and use a 9 x13 inch pan.

Cake Ingredients and Directions:

28 ounces flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
2 tsp. salt

Sift dry ingredients into a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl combine…

4 cups water
4 Tbsp. vinegar
2 tsp. vanilla
4 cups sugar
4 tsp. baking soda
6 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Mix wet ingredients, then add to the first bowl of dry ingredients.  Mix well.

Divide batter into two 12-inch springform pans lined with parchment paper.  Bake at 350 degrees, 40-45 minutes then cool.
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Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients and Directions:

3 pounds softened cream cheese
3 Tbsp. vanilla
12 ounces powdered sugar, sifted
4 ounces cocoa powder, sifted
3/4 cup light corn syrup

In a mixer, add cream cheese and vanilla.  Gradually add sugar and cocoa powder, periodically scraping sides of mixing bowl.  Add corn syrup.

Place one layer of cooled cake onto serving plater, place approximately 1/3 of the frosting on top and spread to edges. Place second layer on top of first layer. Frost top and sides of layers with remaining frosting.

When serving, top slices with chocolate syrup.