CHOCOLATE-CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY CAKE
This is the birthday cake I've made for my son since he was about 11. After boxed cakes, ice-cream cakes, a cake in a Darth Vader mold (that year, the party's theme was "May the Fours Be With You), this cake hit the spot and remains a favorite. It's a double-layer devil's-food cake made with cocoa and bittersweet chocolate, the same pair that makes the frosting so luscious. You can make the layers ahead of time, wrap them and freeze them for up to a month. As for the frosting, it's best spread between the layers and over the cake when it's just made. Once assembled, the cake can be refrigerated overnight. It cuts most easily when it's cold but tastes best when it's at room temperature, which is about what it will be once the candles are blown out and the slices put on plates. Ice cream alongside is unnecessary but nice. Hey, it's a birthday!
Provided by Dorie Greenspan
Categories cakes, dessert
Time 3h
Yield 12 to 14 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Center a rack in the oven, and preheat it to 350. Butter the interiors of two 9-inch round cake pans, dust with a little cocoa powder and tap out the excess. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Working with an electric mixer (use the paddle, if you have one), beat the butter and sugar together on medium speed for 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one by one, and beat for a minute after each goes in; beat in the vanilla. Reduce the speed to low, and add the dry ingredients in 3 additions and the buttermilk in 2 (start and finish with the dry, and don't worry if the buttermilk makes the batter look slightly curdled). Mix in the melted chocolate. Divide the batter evenly between the pans.
- Bake for 24 to 28 minutes, until a tester poked into the center of the cakes comes out clean. Transfer to racks, let rest 5 minutes and then run a blunt knife around the edges of the pans. Unmold the cakes onto the racks, and cool to room temperature.
- Make the frosting: Sift together the confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder. Using an electric mixer (with the paddle, if available), beat the sugar, cocoa, salt and butter on high speed until fluffy. On low speed, add the chocolate. When it's almost incorporated, beat in the buttermilk. It's best to use the frosting immediately.
- If necessary, just before you're ready to frost the cakes, slice a sliver off the top of each layer to create a flat surface. To assemble, place one cake layer, top up, on a serving platter, and cover with frosting. Top with the second layer, top down, jiggling it into the frosting to hold it in place. Frost the top and sides of the cake - go sleek or swirly. If you're using decorations, scatter them over the cake. Chill for at least 1 hour (or for up to 1 day); bring to room temperature before serving.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 683, UnsaturatedFat 13 grams, Carbohydrate 79 grams, Fat 41 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 7 grams, SaturatedFat 25 grams, Sodium 322 milligrams, Sugar 59 grams, TransFat 1 gram
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KING DAVID SULE
sk32@yahoo.comI love this chocolate cake recipe! It's so moist and decadent, and the frosting is the perfect balance of sweet and creamy. I always get compliments when I make this cake.
Ryleigh McSweeny
mr32@hotmail.comThis cake is so easy to make and it's always a crowd-pleaser. I've made it for birthdays, potlucks, and even just for a special treat for my family. It's always a hit!
Nathaniel Beven
beven.nathaniel@yahoo.comI had some trouble getting the cake to rise evenly. I think I might have overmixed the batter. The cake still tasted good, but it wasn't as fluffy as I would have liked.
Nicola Tammaro
nicola-t57@hotmail.co.ukThis cake is a bit too sweet for my taste, but my kids loved it. They said it was the best chocolate cake they had ever had. I would recommend using less sugar in the frosting if you don't like your cakes too sweet.
Rabby Hasan
r_h@hotmail.comThis chocolate cake is my favorite! It's so moist and flavorful, and the frosting is the perfect sweetness. I always get compliments when I make this cake.
Shiro Shade
shiro_shade30@gmail.comI've made this cake several times now and it always turns out perfect. It's so easy to make and the results are always fantastic. The cake is moist and chocolatey, and the frosting is rich and creamy. This is my go-to cake recipe for any occasion.
bogale Hailemariam
h40@yahoo.comThis cake is amazing! It's so moist and chocolatey, and the frosting is rich and creamy. I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone looking for a delicious and impressive dessert.
Mike Knop
knop_mike@yahoo.comThis chocolate cake is a classic for a reason. It's simple to make, but it's always delicious. I love that I can always count on this recipe to turn out a perfect cake.
Jonathan Pietersen
pietersen@hotmail.frI love this chocolate cake recipe! It's so moist and decadent, and the frosting is the perfect balance of sweet and creamy. I always get compliments when I make this cake.
Gary Nelson
ng@gmail.comThis cake is so easy to make and it's always a crowd-pleaser. I've made it for birthdays, potlucks, and even just for a special treat for my family. It's always a hit!
Alba Farez
albaf@yahoo.comI had some trouble getting the cake to rise evenly. I think I might have overmixed the batter. The cake still tasted good, but it wasn't as fluffy as I would have liked.
Qadeer Ansari
ansari_q@gmail.comThis cake was a bit too sweet for my taste, but my kids loved it. They said it was the best chocolate cake they had ever had. I would recommend using less sugar in the frosting if you don't like your cakes too sweet.
said djkuchikachi
d.s@gmail.comI've made this cake several times now and it always turns out perfect. It's so easy to make and the results are always fantastic. The cake is moist and chocolatey, and the frosting is rich and creamy. This is my go-to cake recipe for any occasion.
ismael jnbaptiste
i-j31@gmail.comThis chocolate cake is amazing! I made it for my friend's birthday and everyone raved about it. The cake was moist and fluffy, and the frosting was rich and creamy. I would highly recommend this cake to anyone looking for a delicious and impressive d
Ken Czaja
ken-czaja@hotmail.comI made this cake for my husband's birthday and he loved it! The cake was so moist and flavorful, and the frosting was the perfect sweetness. I will definitely be making this cake again for future birthdays.
Jain Abdullah
j_a88@hotmail.comThis chocolate birthday cake was a hit at my daughter's party! It was moist and delicious, and the frosting was rich and creamy. I would definitely make this cake again.