Chocolate {Brownie} Bavarian Torte

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A couple of weeks ago now, we were invited to friends of ours, for dinner.  I asked what I could bring and we settled on me bringing a dessert of some kind.  I was thrilled!!

{Interjection:  It really bothers me when someone tells me to 'just come' and to not bring anything.  Yet!  I do the very same thing, to others.  I'll tell them to just bring their appetite(s) and that's it.  I wonder why that is?}

So.  Back to this dessert.  It is a layered dessert.  Rich.  And, surprisingly it has a hint of coffee/mocha flavor even though there is nothing coffee about it.

Chocolate Bavarian Torte

1 (18 1/4 oz.) devil's food cake mix  (except that I used a Ghirardelli Brownie Mix, instead**)

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1/8 tsp. salt

1 1/4 - 2 cups. whipping cream, whipped

2 Tbsp. grated semi-sweet chocolate (I think I used some Hershey Kisses and just chopped them up - in my food chopper)

Bake the cake mix as directed on package.  Use to 9" round cake pans.  Cool for 15 minutes.  Remove cake(s) from pan and cool completely on wire racks.  (**...here is what I did. I baked the brownie mix as directed, in a 9" square baking pan. Perhaps under baking it a bit.  Let it cool in the pan. And cut into 1" squares.)

In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt until fluffy.  Fold in cream.  Split each cake into two horizontal layers; place one on a serving platter.  Spread with a 1/4 cup of the cream mixture - sprinkling 1/4 of the chocolate over that.  Repeat layers.

(** What I did, was use a trifle bowl or a deep clear serving bowl.  I layered a handful of brownie cubes - then some of the cream mixture and chocolate, repeating as I went.  See photo.)

Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.   (I'm not sure that I needed to do this last part with using the brownie.  At least for this length of time.)

Enjoy!  This pure decadence.