Tree Trunk or Tree Stump Cake

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My sister's wedding reception was held at a nature center. And she and her hubby love to do all kinds of nature-y things. So, when I was trying to think of a way to bring in the groom's favorite kind of cake (chocolate with raspberry filling), I thought of this, realizing that you could "carve" the ganache to look like bark, and it would not be all that hard to make.

What You Need:
Cake
This was one 10"x2" round layer, two 9"x2" round layers and one 8"x3" round layer
Milk Chocolate Ganache:
- 16 oz. heavy whipping cream
- 32 oz. milk chocolate (I thought any darker of chocolate made the bark look too dark)
White Chocolate Ganache:
- 4 oz. heavy whipping cream
- 2 oz. white chocolate

For the shape of cake I wanted, I layered the cakes as so:
9"x2"
8"x3"
9"x2"
10"x2"

I made the base strong by adding four food-safe dowel rods to the bottom two layers, and placed the 8" layer on a cardboard cake circle.
(Click the link for a better photo tutorial on how to construct a tiered cake, add the dowel rods, and stabilize the cake.)

I then used a bread knife to carve the bottom and top layers to give it something of an hourglass shape - it looked more like a stump to me that way than straight on the sides.

For the ganache, heat the heavy cream on the stove until small bubbles form around the edges.
Pour hot cream over chopped chocolate (or chocolate chips as I used in this case).
Let it set for about one minute, then whisk until it gets creamy and smooth. (It will get chunky and weird-looking at first. This is normal.)
The ganache needs to set aside for about an hour or so in the refrigerator to get thick enough to spread on the cake.
*Note: This is a thicker ganache than I usually use on a cake. This has more chocolate to cream ratio so that it stiffens up more than a traditional ganache.

Make the small batch of white chocolate ganache while the chocolate batch cools. You will want to add a little of the milk chocolate to the white. This is used to make the top of the cake, where you see the 'tree circles.'

I spread two layers of ganache on the cake.
Spread one layer, then place the cake in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, then spread another layer.
You want this to look messy, chunky, not smooth. It's a tree, for heaven's sake!!

Spread the milk chocolate layer on the top the first time, but not the second time.
For a second layer on the top, use the lighter-colored white chocolate ganache mixture. Leave about 1/4" ring of the dark chocolate around the top.
While that layer is still not set, add a few swirls of the dark chocolate on top of the lighter layer, and use the spatula to spread them to create the 'rings.'
I added a little "carving" of the bride & groom's initials using some of the milk chocolate.

To create the texture on the cake, add some "knotholes" by using a toothpick to make oval-shaped spirals.

Use a fork to create the bark-like texture, being careful to go around your knot holes, and add some waves. The lines shouldn't be straight.

I found this awesome tree slab platter at World Market for the stand for the cake.
My sister was very happy with the tree cake, too. I also made the wedding cake, with quilled gum paste sunflowers. (That tutorial is coming soon!)