I have a couple of great recipes for chocolate cake. The problem is they are not "sturdy" enough for a stacked cake. I made a 12-inch cake out of a chocolate butter cake recipe for a 4-tiered anniversary cake. The chocolate cake fell apart. javascript:emoticon('') I ended up having to re-bake the 12-inch cake (plain butter cake). It turned out fine, but I know there was some disappointment in not having a chocolate tier. Is there a chocolate recipe out there that will hold up on the bottom of a stacked cake? If not, I guess I will have to reserve the chocolate for the top tier!

How or when did it fall apart??

This cake has a 12" chocolate cake on the bottom. Recipes are on the second link.

http://smittenkitchen.com/category/wedding-cake/

http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/07/project-wedding-cake-the-cake-is-baked/

It came apart when I tried to fill it and put the layers together (it cooled overnight, so I know that wasn't it)! I've used this recipe as a normal sized (9 in) two-layer cake and never had this problem. To be honest, it seemed extra dry!

When you were filling it and trying to put the layers together did you use something to 'support' the layers while you moved them, or did you just pick them up with your hands?