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Chocolate Layer Cake for #SundaySupper

Chocolate Layer Cake

There are times we all need some comfort. Stressful, busy, sad, or anxious days are made a little better with certain foods. Which foods? It is different for every single person. I go for just about any food in general when I need a little comfort. Food itself is comforting to me. I head directly towards chocolate when I need a lot of comfort. My ultimate choice is a chocolate layer cake. Rich, moist, and with a thick dose of creamy frosting.

The important part to me is the frosting. I have said before, cake is only there to hold up the frosting. Granted I do bake and enjoy cakes without frosting, usually a bundt or ones baked in a tube pan. However, if they were all lined up on a dessert bar I would choose the ones with frosting first. This chocolate layer cake has oodles of frosting. The recipe makes enough that even I had some leftover. I may or may not have kept the extra and ate it all by itself. Ahem.

A slice of Chocolate Layer Cake

The Sunday Supper team is sharing their favorite comfort food. The recipes span from savory to sweet, breakfast to dessert, and a whole lot in between:

Comfort Food | Soups

Comfort Food  | Main Dish

Comfort Food | Desserts

Pairing Wine with Sunday Supper Comfort Food Favorites! by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog

We are thrilled to have Lee Woodruff joining us for this event. Lee is an author, contributor to CBS Good Morning, wife, mother, and one who has been through some tough times. Her husband, Bob, was critically injured while reporting in Iraq in 2006. You can read about it in her book, In an Instant. She also has two other books, Perfectly Imperfect and the recently released Those We Love Most.

Lee will be tweeting with us in the #SundaySupper chat. Set your reminder and join in today (Sunday, October 14th) at 7pm Eastern Time. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and be sure to include it in your tweets during the chat. Take a look at the #SundaySupper Pinterest board for even more food photos and recipes.

What is your ultimate comfort food? Do you find yourself craving it during a tough time or is it seasonal? So interesting how food plays a greater part in our lives than only for eating. Family dinners, celebrations, fun times, sad times, and so much more is highlighted with food. The wonderful memories held in a taste or smell can be unleashed and give us comfort when we need it.

Chocolate Layer Cake
2.67 from 3 votes
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Chocolate Layer Cake

A recipe for a chocolate layer cake with moist chocolate layers and a creamy chocolate frosting.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Author Renee

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs at room temperature
  • 1 cup buttermilk at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup hot coffee
  • 1/2 cup boiling water

For the frosting:

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 7 cups sifted powdered sugar

Instructions

For the cake:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9-inch cake pans. Line the bottom of the pans with parchment paper. Grease the parchment paper and then flour the pans.
  2. In a large bowl, add sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine. Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed of an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Stir in hot coffee and boiling water. The batter will be thin. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.
  3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cakes in the pans for 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans and cool completely on wire racks.

For the frosting:

  1. In a medium saucepan, add the butter, cocoa, and milk. Cook over low heat until butter melts, stirring constantly. Remove pan from heat. Add salt, vanilla, and powdered sugar to the pan. Beat on high speed of an electric mixer until of spreading consistency. (Frosting will thicken as it cools). Add additional warm milk if necessary.

For the cake:

  1. Spread frosting on top of each layer and on the sides of the cake. Slice and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

You may have extra frosting as this recipe makes a big batch. Store any leftover frosting in the refrigerate for up to 1 week. Bring frosting to room temperature to use.

Cake recipe adapted from Hershey’s and That Skinny Chick Can Bake. Frosting adapted from Southern Living 1986 Annual Recipes

Recipe Rating




Anne P @ Webicurean

Sunday 28th of October 2012

that cake looks GREAT! I don't bake cakes often, but I think I need to correct that! Certainly my husband won't complain, especially if chocolate is involved!

Amanda

Saturday 20th of October 2012

This looks delicious!

Jamie (Mama.Mommy.Mom)

Thursday 18th of October 2012

Buttermilk... delicious! I love a good chocolate cake.

Jamie @ www.mamamommymom.com

Jamie

Thursday 18th of October 2012

I think a lot of us have some version of this wonderful, moist, chocolatey cake! I know I have a couple and when I need comfort I head directly to this recipe! Perfect!

Sarah

Thursday 18th of October 2012

I completely agree with you on all levels about comfort food. The first thing I reach for when I'm sad, mad, or happy is food. I soothe myself with food and I reward myself with food. I normally go for the pasta and rice dishes but I can completely get on board with the chocolate layer cake. :)