Chocolate Cake Recipe

Nothing quite says dessert like a rich, creamy and moist chocolate cake.  Especially when you get double the chocolate with a creamy chocolate frosting.  Below is my recipe for a delicious and moist chocolate cake that is made with cocoa powder, unsweetened chocolate,, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract and buttermilk.  The cake is then frosted with a creamy and fluffy chocolate frosting that is made with butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, heavy cream and vanilla extract.

Cake Ingredients:

2 cups of all purpose flour, plus more for dusting the pans
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
2/3 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ounce of unsweetened chocolate
2 sticks of unsalted butter at room temperature, plus more for greasing the pans
3/4 cup of granulated sugar
1 cup of packed dark brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon of  almond extract
1 1/2 cups of buttermilk
1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips to decorate the cake

Chocolate Frosting Ingredients:

2 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
3 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
4 tablespoons of heavy cream
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon of salt

Instructions:

You will want to begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. and by lightly greasing and flouring two 9 inch round cake pans and then setting them aside for use later.

Next, you should take a medium mixing bowl and then add in your dry ingredients of flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder and whisk your ingredients together.

Then break the chocolate into small pieces and place your pieces into a microwavable cup.  You will then want to place it into the microwave and microwave on high for about 90 seconds until the chocolate melts.  Then set it aside and let it cool slightly.

You should now cream butter with sugar, so place the butter and granulated and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat them together with an electric mixer until its well blended and nice and fluffy.  This should take 3 to 4 minutes.  Now add your eggs, one at a time, into the mixture and beat until they are well incorporated.  Then add in your chocolate, vanilla extract and almond extract and mix until all of your ingredients have come together.

Your next step is to add the flour mixture and buttermilk to your ingredients to create the batter for the cake.  You will want to do this by adding about a cup of the flour mixture into your ingredients until incorporated into the batter and then adding about half of your buttermilk.  Continue doing this until all of the flour and all of the milk has been added to the mixture and you now have the batter.  Make certain to start with the flour and end with the flour.

Now, pour the batter into your two 9 inch greased and floured round cake pans. Tap them on the table to level out the batter and release a few air bubbles.  You will want to bake in the center of the oven at 350 degrees F. for 25 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.  Make certain you to not over bake or you will have a dry cake.

You will now want to place the layers on a wire rack and cool for about 30 minutes before you remove the cake layers from the pan.  Leave your cake layers on the rack until they are fully cool since frosting a warm cake is not a good idea.

When the cake layers are fully cooled you will want to make the frosting.  Place your butter into a mixing bowl and then cream the butter with a hand mixer on medium speed for 3 to 4 minutes. Then add in your powdered sugar and cocoa powder and mix on low until mixed together.  Then add in your heavy cream, vanilla extract and salt and continue to mix until your frosting is smooth and creamy.

When the frosting is finished you will want to remove your cake layers from your cake pans.  To do this, run a knife around the edge of the pans and then tap the bottom of your cake pans on a hard surface until you feel the bottom of your cake layer come free.  Then place a plate on top of the cake pan and then flip over your layer onto the plate.  It should come free at this time.  You will want to begin frosting your cake by placing your first layer, bottom side down in the center of a cake stand.  With a spatula now evenly spread about 4 ounces of your frosting on top of your first layer.  Once this is done place your second layer on top of the first one, bottom side down and then press down on top of the last layer with both of your hands to create one complete cake.  You should now begin to spread your frosting with a spatula first on top of your cake and then on the sides until your cake is fully covered.   To decorate the cake you will want to lightly press your chocolate chips onto the sides of your cake.  Now, place your cake into the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to chill.  After this time your cake is now ready to serve and enjoy.