Fudge Cake

I made this ghoulish cake for halloween upcoming.  I've had it in the back of my head for a few weeks now, ever since I saw it here, (don't bother looking, her rendition is far nicer than mine!)  It was fun to put together and I'm glad I made it, for now my chocolate cake craving is thoroughly settled.

A few notes: My meringues were far from done at 90 minutes; they needed at least an hour longer, I didn't know this at the time, that is why mine are wrinkly.  The chocolate frosting is a great deal harder than it sounds.  I frosted the cake refrigerating between layers then layered a crumb coat and chilled that along with the chocolate in the pan for 10 minutes as well.  I had to be careful not to chill the chocolate to much or it became lumpy and lose it's sheen.  Finally the chocolate ganache had me going twice.  The first time I made it with chocolate chips and the taste was all burnt.  The next time I was more careful, using a bar of 72% chocolate I very slowly melted it with the cream.  It's not all shiny that is for sure, but the chocolate is there!  I think a nice chocolate buttercream on small cupcakes would have a better texture. I find when the chocolate cooled into the cake it made it fudgy and chewy, I don't like this  personally.  All and all I am very pleased with the results.