The Ultimate Chocolate Cake
The Ultimate Chocolate Cake with rich and chocolatey whipped frosting! The cake recipe is simple and yields a tender crumb. The ultimate cake for chocolate lovers!
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 3 1/3 cups flour
- 1 1/3 cups cocoa powder
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 Tbsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 sticks unsalted butter
- 3 cups buttermilk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 5 eggs
For the dark chocolate frosting:
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup boiling water
- 3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1 pound semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled
Instructions
For the cake:
- Preheat oven to 350º. Grease and flour two 9 inch cake pans. Using the bottom of the pan as a guide, trace lightly and cut out rounds to go into the cake pan. Again, butter and flour the parchment, too.
- Combine all ingredients except flour and buttermilk in the bowl of a standing mixer. Stir until combined.
- In three phases, alternate between adding the flour and the buttermilk, scraping down the side of the bowl as you mix. Once completely combined, divide batter between the two cake pans. Bake for 55 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean.
- Allow cakes to cool slightly in their pans, about 20 minutes. I like placing them on a cooling rack so the bottom of the pan can get airflow, too. Run a knife around the perimeter of each pan and invert the cakes on the cooling rack to completely cool. Meanwhile, prepare your frosting of choice!
For the dark chocolate frosting:
- Combine cocoa powder and boiling water until cocoa has dissolved
- In the bowl of a standing mixer, combine butter, sugar, and salt until pale and fluffy. Add the melted and cooled chocolate, beating until combined. Add the cocoa mixture, mixing completely to combine.
- Use frosting at room temperature. If you have leftovers (this recipe makes a lot of frosting!), it stores nicely in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Notes
Chocolate Cake Recipe from Trader Joe's.
Frosting recipe slightly adapted from Martha Stewart.