I realize it's Cinco De Mayo and I should probably be doing a delicious Mexican recipe, but...

Ever since I read the words, "candy bar filling" on Wish Trish's blog I have been dying to try this cake. Last night was the night! A very tasty treat indeed! Bear with me, I will give 3 separate recipes, but oh so worth all three! (And Trish makes wedding cakes and such, so these recipes are large. I halved everything and they were perfect for a two layered 9 inch round cake. If you want to see pictures of her beautiful cakes, just search "candy bar cake" on her blog.)
First up, Trish's no-fail cake recipe:
2 (18 ounce) boxes white cake mix (I like Betty Crocker)
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 2/3 cups water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons real vanilla
2 teaspoons almond extract
2 cups sour cream
8 large egg whites
1. Place all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir together with a wire whisk.
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2. Add the remaining ingredients and beat for 2 minutes.
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3. Pour into greased and floured cake pans, filling each pan a little over half full....
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4. Lightly tap cake pans on counter to bring air bubbles to top....
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5. Bake in preheated 325° F oven until cake tests done. I don't put a baking time here because it depends on the size of the pan. (For my two 9 inch rounds it took about 30 minutes.)
*This is an easy cake to change the flavor of. You can make it with lemon for lemon cake, use a different flavor cake mix (whole eggs instead of whites), etc.
While your cakes are baking away, get started on the filling and frosting.
Candy Bar Cake Filling (Tastes a whole lot homemade chocolate pudding to me!)
1/2 cup sugar
5 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups whole milk or half-and-half
3 egg whites (beat with a fork until frothy)
1 tsp. vanilla
8 ounces chocolate bars, any flavor (I used Dove Promises)
1. Combine all ingredients except vanilla and chocolate bars in a heavy saucepan.
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2. Stir constantly until mixture boils. Boil and stir one additional minute. Do not leave unattended.
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3. Remove from heat.
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4. Add the vanilla and chocolate bar pieces.
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5. Stir until chocolate is completely melted.
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6. Pour into a bowl. Press plastic wrap directly onto surface (to prevent pudding-skin). Chill. Don't fill your cakes until this mixture is completely cool throughout.
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Trish's Tip:
Filling a cake is simple if done over time. Filling a cake the day you are going to eat it is a race against the clock. My suggestion is to cut your cakes how you want them, pipe icing about the circumference of your finger around the outer edge to be filled, and freeze it for several hours before filling.
This allows your filling to stay contained, and also provides support so that the outside of your cake doesn't "burp" as it warms up. After filling re-freeze before stacking and icing.
Trish's Stiff Whipped Cream (Oh my word, just give me a spoon, SO yummy!)
1 bottle (4 cups) heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tablespoon vanilla
and your choice of instant pudding mix (I like to use white chocolate flavor because the whipped cream remains white.)
1. Freeze metal mixing bowl and whisk (or Kitchenaid whip) for at least 1/2 hour.
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2. Remove utensils from freezer and immediately pour in whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla and begin whipping hard.
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3. When whipped high into whipped cream, add enough pudding mix to stiffen. If I am piping I will add an entire (small size) box of instant pudding mix.
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4. Let whip several minutes on high until stiff peaks form (I would estimate 5 minutes or so).That's it! It will stay good in the fridge in an air-tight container until the expiration of the heavy whipping cream. It freezes really beautifully, too.
I realize this is a bad picture, but I wanted you to be able to see the yummy chocolate pudding filling on the inside.
Thanks for the cake tips and recipe Trish!!