For the Chocolate Cake:
- 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, as foundational as bedrock
- 1 ¾ cups of granulated sugar, as sweet as a serenade
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder, the rise behind the chocolate sunrise
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda, for the airiness of clouds
- ½ teaspoon of kosher salt, to sharpen the flavors
- ½ cup of cocoa powder, as dark as a moonless night
- ⅔ cup of vegetable oil, for a moist crumb
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, a whiff of pure bliss
- 3 eggs, the trinity of structure
- ⅔ cup of buttermilk, the tangy twist
- 1 cup of hot coffee, the silent hero that amplifies the chocolate
For the Chocolate Fudge Frosting:
- 315 grams of unsalted butter, a creamy base
- 400 grams of dark chocolate, a bittersweet symphony
- ⅓ cup of cocoa powder, doubling down on decadence
- 1 ⅓ cups of heavy cream, for a velvety texture
- 1 ⅓ cups of powdered sugar, a snowfall of sweetness
- ½ teaspoon of kosher salt, a flavor catalyst
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, the essence of comfort
Baking Your Masterpiece:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and prepare two 8-inch baking pans lined with the parchment paper embrace.
- Whisk together the dry cake orchestra: flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Sift in the cocoa for a flawless mix.
- Stir in the buttermilk, oil, vanilla, and eggs until they're just getting to know each other. Welcome the hot coffee into the mix until it's one harmonious batter.
- Pour the batter into pans, using cake strips for a perfect bake, and pop into the oven for a 25-30 minute bake or until the toothpick test is passed.
- Allow the cake to cool, the patience you exercise here will be rewarded tenfold.
- For the frosting, melt together butter, cream, and chocolate; sift in cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and salt, then cool until it's just the right consistency for spreading.
- Assemble the cake by placing a dollop of frosting on your cake stand, add the first layer, top with frosting, then the second layer, and enrobe the whole cake in the chocolate fudge frosting.
- Use an offset spatula to create waves of chocolate across the cake.
Secrets to Success:
- Don't bypass the coffee; it's a flavor deepener, not a headliner.
- Cake strips are your ally for even layers.
- Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable for a seamless mix.
- Measure flour with the spoon and level method, ensuring a tender crumb.
- Mix with a light hand; overmixing is the enemy of moisture.
- Parchment paper is a guarantee of graceful release from the pan.
- Cooling is critical, both for the cake's texture and the frosting's integrity.
Serve this luxurious chocolate cake as the centerpiece of your next celebration, or as a just-because treat, and revel in the rich, chocolatey goodness. Enjoy the process as much as the tasting!
