Lightened Sacher Cake

You may have heard of the elegant Sacher Torte, with its' dense chocolatey texture and intense flavor. This creation was born recently from an idea from my gorgeous little sister who lived in Italy for months at a time. This version is a little lighter much quicker, and a little more American. Nonetheless, it got some rave reviews.
So here goes.
Sacher Cake Rachel Style. (Quick)
Preheat oven 350 and spray 2 9 in cake pans with butter or cooking spray
2 1/2 cup baking mix
1 box chocolate pudding mix
1t baking powder
1/2 c baking cocoa
Combine the above into a medium bowl and stir with whisk to ensure there are no lumps
1 1/2 c white sugar
3 eggs beaten
1/3 c oil
1 t vanilla
3/4 c evaporated milk
1/2 c orange juice.
2 T molasses
Beat together with electric mixer, or whisk until well combined
Then add to dry mixture with whisk or electric mixer and beat until the batter is smooth and uniform.
Pour into prepared pans. Put in hot oven for 25-32 min depending on the finish of your bakeware.
Check with toothpick, the should not be wet, and top should spring back when touched. Remove from oven and cool ten min thaen remove from pans.
Mix together 1/4 c apricot jelly and 1/4 c orange juice heat in microwave for 1-2 min stirring every 30 seconds until mixture is melted together. Prick both cakes all over with skewer or sharp knife. brush apricot mixture over both cakes until it has seeped in.
To assemble combine 1/4 c apricot jelly with store bought or homemade cream cheese frosting for a 2 layer cake. Beat together, then fill and frost cake turning bottom layer upside down. Use as much or as little as you prefer for a typical cake frostin in your home. 2 cans of mixed store bought frosting or recipe using 8 oz cream cheese should provide enough to fill and frost cake. For garnish try shaving chocolate bars with a veggie peeler or simply dust with a little cocoa powder.

Okay, so it is a pretty involved recipe, but if you like hearing oohs' and ahh's as you walk in the room, this cake will get you there. Plus, it has a less caloric punch than the original while maintaining the wow factor.
Keep Smiling
Ms Brownie.