Is there anything more sumptuous and decadent than a really good chocolate cake? Ok, so not everybody loves chocolate cake equally. For those who do, though, there are few things that taste as rich and flavorful as chocolate does. Generally, a chocolate cake is reserved for a special occasion like a birthday or an anniversary. And most of the time on these occasions, we usually just pick up a cake mix and a can of frosting and call it good.
Still, nothing beats a homemade cake—especially one as delicious as this.
This cake is made completely from scratch—even the frosting. Here’s what you need:
Cake:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
- 1 1/2 warm water
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 nine-inch cake rounds
Chocolate Ganache Frosting:
- 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 tsp vanilla extract
- 7-8 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- Here’s what you do to make the cakes:
1. First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then butter your cake pans all around the inside and sprinkle with flour—for an added chocolate kick, you can also sprinkle with cocoa powder if you want. Get the whole pan covered and tap out the excess powder.
2. After that, throw your flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Combine with a whisk.
3. Next, add your wet ingredients—that’s eggs, buttermilk, hot water and vegetable oil. You can whisk by hand or use an electric mixer to make the process easier. Be careful not to overmix—just make sure everything is evenly combined.
4. Finally, pour your batter evenly into the three pans and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Bake them on the middle rack if possible.
5. Once they’re done, let them cool for about 10 minutes before flipping them carefully over onto a wire rack.
The real secret to this recipe, however, is the incredible chocolate ganache frosting. Here’s what you have to do:
1. In another huge mixing bowl, throw in your softened cream cheese and butter. Use a hand mixer to whip the ingredients together until it is light and fluffy. After that, throw in your cocoa powder—be sure to use the best quality stuff you can find! Next, keep mixing until it’s roughly combined.
2. Add a couple tablespoons of milk and keep mixing, again until roughly combined. Next, start adding your powdered sugar. All told, you’re adding in about seven or eight cups, but make sure you do it only one cup at a time.
3. Keep mixing it together until the entire thing gets fluffier and lighter. When it’s finally done, use a plastic spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl to incorporate all the last stray ingredients.
Now, you’re ready to put it all together! Here’s what you do:
1. After the cakes have cooled down enough, lay one of your rounds out on a cake stand and frost the top of it very carefully. Once that’s done, add another round on top and repeat until the three layers are together.
2. Once all three layers are together, throw the rest of the frosting on there and work it around the sides until you have a beautiful, decadent chocolate cake to eat!
Although this cake is sure to be delicious just how it is, feel free to add in your own twists as you master it. Maybe you want to put raspberry puree in the cake mix? Or maybe you want raspberries to decorate it with on top? No matter how you slice it, this cake is sure to be an amazing family favorite that you’ll come back to again and again.
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