Prepare the Cake

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans, or line them with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
3. Add the Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Use an electric mixer or a whisk to mix everything until smooth and well incorporated.
4. Add Boiling Water: Slowly add the boiling water to the batter. The batter will be thin, but that’s okay—it helps make the cake moist and tender.
5. Bake: Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
6. Cool the Cakes: Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Prepare the Strawberry Filling

1. Cook the Strawberries: In a medium saucepan, combine the chopped strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture begins to thicken and the strawberries release their juices (about 5-7 minutes).
2. Cool the Filling: Remove from heat and let it cool completely before spreading on the cake. This ensures it doesn’t melt the ganache or seep into the cake layers too much.

Make the Chocolate Ganache

1. Heat the Cream: In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream over medium heat until it just begins to simmer.
2. Combine with Chocolate: Place the chopped chocolate in a bowl, then pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Let it sit for a minute, then stir until smooth and glossy.
3. Add Butter: Stir in the butter for extra shine and smoothness. Let the ganache cool for about 10 minutes before pouring it over the cake.

Assemble the Cake

1. Layer the Cake: Place one cake layer on your serving platter. Spread a generous amount of the strawberry filling over the top.
2. Add the Second Layer: Place the second cake layer on top of the strawberry filling.
3. Top with Ganache: Pour the chocolate ganache over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides for a beautiful, glossy finish.