Chocolate Layer Cake
Chocolate Layer Cake
This month marks the one year anniversary of the Chocolate Party!!! When Roxana, who created this dessert loving group, suggested baking our family’s favorite chocolate dessert to celebrate this milestone, I knew I’d have a heck of a time deciding on one recipe. But the hubby and sons are always hounding me to make layer cakes. A chocolate layer cake with chocolate frosting to be specific. This is one we loved.
May Day Chocolate Layer Cake
I received an e-mail from the Cardiac Cath Lab at the hospital where Bill works. They were having their annual themed cake event and wondered if I would send in a cake. I knew I was going to bake this cake for the Chocolate Party, but how was I to transform it into a May, June or September themed cake? Those were obviously the least desirable, leftover months. I inserted a dowel rod into the center and arranged dangling ribbons from the apex for a May pole. A few pink flowers completed the decor. Voila…a May Day themed cake. Bill said there were only crumbs by the time he made his way to have a sample. A good sign. The cake was a winner. Except I probably need to bake up another one for my family! Since Bill left for work before 6 AM, I didn’t get a chance to take a nice photo of my May Day cake…but above are all the “before” photos.
Roxana has been planning this anniversary party for months. She has baked up one recipe from each of 12 chocolate loving friends and will feature them on her blog throughout the month. This chocolate layer cake is being featured today…check it out here at Roxana’s Home Baking. You will also have a chance to share one of your favorite chocolate recipes…just add your link to the linky party on her blog…and this will automatically enter you to win something from her giveaway. Scroll down to see all the participation rules. And check out all the excellent sponsors who have offered some amazing prizes.
The giveaway is closed. All prizes and details have been removed.
Chocolate Layer Cake
A moist, old fashioned chocolate layer cake with chocolate buttercream frosting
Ingredients
For cake:
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 3/4 cups flour
- 3/4 cup cocoa
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup butter, melted (Land O Lakes® Butter)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 cup hot coffee (I used one cup boiling water with 2 teaspoons instant coffee)
Buttercream Frosting:
- 6 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 2/3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Butter two 9 inch cake pans, line with parchment rounds and butter top of parchment. Set aside.
- With a stand mixer, stir together first six ingredients. Add eggs, buttermilk, butter and vanilla and beat for about 2 minutes on medium speed, scraping sides of bowl at least once. Stir in coffee.
- Divide batter between the two pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes or till toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Cool for about 10 minutes, then carefully remove cakes from pans to a wire rack to cool completely. Remove parchment.
- Frost when cool.
For Buttercream Frosting
- Cream butter. Add cocoa and powdered sugar alternately with milk. Beat till it reaches spreading consistency, adding more milk as needed. Mix in vanilla.
Makes 2 cups frosting.
Notes
Adapted from Foodess and Hershey's
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1 sliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 472Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 557mgCarbohydrates: 78gFiber: 2gSugar: 58gProtein: 6g
56 Comments on “Chocolate Layer Cake”
I just made this cake for my daughter’s birthday tomorrow. I used 9″ cake pans and had just enough frosting to cover the cake. There wasn’t enough to my liking for the middle layer or enough to get around the cake. I will double the frosting recipe if I make it again to assure that I have enough.
Lizzy,
This cake looks absolutely delicious! I wish I had some right now.
Annamaria
Oh I wish I can make a gorgeous chocolate cake like yours! I’ll be so proud and bring one to every party. Very beautiful, Lizzy!
My little Gabbi would be in seventh heaven with this one. With our without the May themed decor this is very pretty.
It may be early, but I really wish I had a slice to go with my coffee right now! Beautiful Cake!
The cake looks delicious!
That looks like an amazing cake, Lizzy! I wish I could eat something like that, but I have problems with major stimulants these days thanks to menopause. Ugh! I had no idea that it would be so difficult.
Very purty!!
I would devour this cake if it was put in front of me. Perfection!
Loving your chocolate layer cake and wishing for a piece!! Will be thinking of you this Sunday when we make our way into SF to watch our 49ers vs. your Packers 😉
Okay, Liz the photo that you took looks beautiful and I am glad that you did take the photo before because I’m sure the cake was obliterated, devoured, gone in minutes. Okay, sorry that’s too graphic. 🙂 You have a great weekend, Liz!
I was flabbergasted when I saw this on Facebook and more so now, it is perfection 😀
Cheers
CCU
A beautiful luscious cake. I could eat the whole cake, ok maybe not the whole in one sitting, but in couple of days, it’s gone, it looks that good….Chocolate party, now that sounds interesting.
That reminds me, my brother recently baked a cheesecake. I should go grab a slice.
A very very beautiful chocolate cake, Liz.
Gorgeous cake! To be made only for special occasions. 🙂
I just devoured this sin w/ my eyes! MMMmmmmm , It was DAMN good. Xx
That cake is so perfect looking. I love the smooth even surface. You have frosted it beautifully. The people who work with Bill must love him coming in with gifts like this xx
Absolutely gorgeous cake!
aahh What beautiful chocolate cake dear Lizzy, my twins really would love this cake:))
O_O
It’s…so….beaaaautiful!!! Seriously, such a stunning cake, Liz!
An absolutely gorgeous, decadent cake…Perfect to celebrate such an important event as our chocolate party.
What a truly lovely cake! Makes me feel the need to bake a little one for myself, just because this is screaming my name!
Congratulations to all of you who participate in the event. The cake is a perfect fit for the celebrations.
Hi Liz,
This is a fabulous recipe. I’ve used it a lot. A great thing that I changed, if you switch out 1/4 cup of the buttermilk for 1/4 cup of kaluha. It’s awe some! I hope you try it and love it!
What a delicious idea, Liz! Thanks for the suggestion 🙂
Lizzy, your decadent chocolate buttercream cake has to be my all-time favorite…a chocolate ‘lovers’ dream!
So rich and decadent, love the simplicity of the decoration…don’t need lots of ‘fanchy schmancy’ decors. Just gorgeous and heavenly delicious! xoxo
Like I told Roxana…chocolate buttercream is like my one true weakness when it comes to baked goods. I could literally eat like 4 cups of it like dip without even realizing it haha
This cake looks fantastic, I can see why your family likes it so much!
I can’t get that image of this luscious looking cake as a May Day cake out of my head. Perhaps it is wishful thinking for turning the months back a bit, lol…I haven’t had a really good from scratch Chocolate layer cake with chocolate frosting in waaaaaayyyyyy to long. I must change that! This sounds like a sweet and tasty event, Liz with very generous sponsors. Thank you so much for sharing…
Simply beautiful cake, Liz!!
I love a good old fashioned chocolate cake with icing! YUM!!
I can see why this is a repeat performance cake, Liz. Love the idea of making this into a May Day cake. Given the scrumptious looking nature of your gateau, I’d say you are lucky you got any photos!
Wow! These look so decadent! I love them.
I think I’ll drop by later lol That cake is gorgeous , Lizzy ! Sinfully rich and the chocolate ball topping is such a perfect addition !
This cake looks so dreamy! *SWOON* I want a big slice of this with a tall glass of milk. YUM! Is it bad to want a slice at 10:30 at night?
Those layers of chocolate cake are calling my name and I wish I had a spoon to “sample” your buttercream ;).
I’m swooning, Liz, over how gorgeous your cake is. This is the perfect recipe for you to pick to celebrate Chocolate Party’s one year anniversary!
Sounds like a great party and what a cake to start off the celebration of Party Chocolate! I’m not surprised there were only crumbs left.
You can never go wrong with chocolate!
I should have waited to make my chocolate coconut cake! This looks divine!
That cake looks perfect – well done!
Lizzy, that’s a pretty chocolate cake! A slice of that cake would certainly cheer me up 🙂
There is nothing that tops a chocolate cake topped with chocolate frosting and garnished with chocolate bits when you are having a chocolate craving. I don’t think this cake would last long in our home!
I love all things chocolate but chocolate layer cake is my favorite. So pretty and so delicious all at once. Love this cake!
Gosh that’s gorgeous! Love the looks of it, and I’ll bet the flavor is sensational. You rock! 😉 Thanks for this.
My dear friend Liz.
What a beautiful cake, so delicious in the dough as the filling. Very beautiful, simple and elegant decoration. I would love to taste it.
kisses
Would it be awful of me to just stick my whole face into that cake and eat my way out? Golly… what a beautiful cake for the eyes to behold. Roxana’s having a rocking good anniversary!!
PS… I hate to bother you Liz…. but I would appreciate if you could please vote for my burger (you can vote 3x in a row a day until September 17th) It’s the Grand Slam Burger by Curry and Comfort.
I cannot remember the last time I made a layer cake. Your looks FABULOUS. And the icing and decoration is elegant and beautiful.
That cakes sure does look like a winner Liz, I love a good old fashioned chocolate cake. Too bad you didn’t have the May Day cake photos, I would have loved to see it.
I love how you decorated this, so simple and elegant!!
Liz, this cake is so gorgeous! Great job!
Hi Liz,
Thanks so much for allowing me to bake this cake and share it not only with my family but with my readers as well. It’s definitely a recipe to keep in our favorite folder.
Thanks so much for being supportive of the party year long!
Hugs,
Roxana
Oh my, this definitely looks like a special occasion cake, love it Liz!
Hi Liz, the cake looks amazing and delicious!!
Liz, Nothing beats a lush layer cake—especially all chocolate. Though we didn’t get to feast our eyes on the May Day Cake, I’m content to stare longingly at the Chocolate Party entry depicted herein!
Beautiful cake. I can close my eyes and imagine myself eating it. 🙂