The Perfect Chocolate Cake

Tags

cake, chocolate, dessert, homemade, icing, perfection

Luscious. Decadent. Moist. Sinful. Perfection on a plate.

It is not an exaggeration to say this is the most perfect cake I have ever had.

You simply MUST make it. Trust me.

The Perfect Chocolate Cake (from Diethood)

Cake:

• butter for pans
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup brewed strong black coffee
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Chocolate Frosting:

• 12 oz semi sweet chocolate chips, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 stick butter

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter then flour two 9 inch round cake pans. In a mixer bowl, combine sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Make a pond in the middle and add in the eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oil, and vanilla. Combine the ingredients using the mixer, beating the ingredients on medium speed for about 2 minutes. The results will be a thin batter. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans, being sure the batter is evenly dispersed. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the cake tester comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes then remove from the pans onto wire cooling racks. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting, chop this chips into small pieces and add to a medium mixing bowl; set aside. In a saucepan, add the whipping cream and butter. Cook over medium heat until just at a boil. Pour the hot mixture over the chocolate. Whisk until the ingredients are totally incorporated and smooth. Cover and refrigerate for an hour. Remove from the fridge, stir, and place back in the fridge for another hour. Check the icing again. It should be at a spreadable consistency.

On a cake pan, place the first layer. Spread 1/4 to 1/3 of the frosting evenly over the first layer. Top with the second layer and frost the entire cake evenly. Serves 12.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Icing

Tags

cake, chocolate, dessert, frosting, gifts, icing, peanut butter, sweets, Valentine's Day

This is another great recipe from Confections of a Foodie Bride. I made them for my hubby for Valentine’s Day (as well as getting him a new bottle of his favorite cologne). I rarely love icing but this stuff is addicting. There was some left over that my co-workers and I enjoyed with graham crackers… MMMM! Your valentine will love this!

I love the Elvis curl on this cupcake!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Icing 

The Cake:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 3/8 cup dutch process cocoa
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 Tbsp white vinegar
• 1 egg

For the Peanut Butter Frosting:

• 5 oz cream cheese, at room temp
• 4 Tbsp butter, at room temp
• pinch of salt
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup peanut butter

Line 15 cups of a muffin pan with cupcake papers. Add dry ingredients to the bowl of your stand mixer. Turn on low and add sour cream and oil. When completely mixed, add water in 1/4-cup increments until the batter is uniform. Add vanilla, vinegar, and the egg, mixing on medium until combined. The batter will be very runny. Ladle batter into the cupcake liners, filling 3/4 full. Bake for ~25 minutes, until a skewer inserted in a center cupcake comes out with moist crumbs attached. Let cool in pan for 20 minutes and then cool on wire rack completely before frosting.

To make the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter on high, until light and creamy (2-3 minutes). Mix in salt and powdered sugar on low speed until just combined and then beat on high for 2-3 minutes, until the frosting is fluffy. Add peanut butter and mix on high until completely combined. Ice and enjoy!