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1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray, or butter and flour them.
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2
Warm the oil in the microwave until it is softened or even melted but not hot to the touch, up to 30 seconds, then pour it into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
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3
Add the yogurt, brown sugar, applesauce and vanilla, and mix until combined.
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4
Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
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5
With the mixer on low, slowly add 1/3 of the dry ingredients to the yogurt mixture, then 1/4 cup of the milk.
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6
Repeat with the rest of the dry ingredients and milk.
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7
Remove the bowl from the stand mixer, and fold in the chocolate chips.
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8
Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans.
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9
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 22 to 26 minutes.
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10
(Cooking times vary depending on the quality of the ingredients and weather conditions.)
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11
Let the cakes cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
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12
To assemble: Rinse the grapes, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and strawberries until they're shiny and clean.
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13
Place 1 cake layer on a cake stand, and top with about 3/4 cup whipped cream.
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14
Place a strawberry that's 1 to 1 1/2 inches high upside-down in the center of the cake.
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15
(This will help keep the cream from smooshing out when you add the next cake layer.)
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16
Spread some of the fruit around the edges of the cake.
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17
Because this is a naked cake, you will want to pay attention to how you place the fruit on the edge.
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18
Place the remaining cake layer on top.
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19
Starting with a bunch of grapes still attached to the vine, place the grapes on the cake, then start building up around them.
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20
Fill in with the raspberries, blackberries and blueberries, and place a few more grapes around to balance the color.
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21
Finally, place some strawberries around the edge and maybe even 1 on top.
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22
Drizzle the chocolate syrup over the cake, and chill until ready to serve.
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23
If using confectioners' sugar, sprinkle it over the top immediately before serving.
