Preheat oven: Set oven to 350°F. Prep your cake pans with butter and parchment.
Make cocoa mixture: Whisk cocoa powder with hot water or coffee until smooth. Let it cool slightly.
Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Combine wet ingredients: Add oil, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla to the cocoa mixture. Mix well.
Make batter: Pour wet mixture into dry ingredients and whisk until smooth.
Bake: Divide batter into pans and bake for about 30 minutes until springy. Cool completely.
Make frosting: Beat butter and salt until fluffy. Slowly add sugar and strawberries, mixing until smooth and light.
Assemble layers: Place one cake layer, spread frosting, repeat with second layer, then top with third.
Frost outside: Cover the entire cake with remaining frosting. Chill for at least 1 hour.
Make ganache: Heat cream, pour over chocolate, let sit, then whisk until smooth.
Add ganache: Pour over cake and let it drip down the sides. This is the fun part.
Garnish: Top with fresh strawberries and chill until set.
