Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake

By á-1822

Ingredients

• Chocolate Cake
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp table salt
• 2 cups hot water
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 Tbsp distilled white vinegar
• 1 Tbsp instant coffee granules
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• Glossy Chocolate Icing
• 1 stick unsalted butter (8 Tbsp)
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 1-1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1-1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 sour cream
• 1 tsp instant coffee granules
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Preparation

Step 1

Chocolate Cake:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in the center. Spray two 8X2- inch round cake pans with nonstick spray.

Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.

Combine water, oil, vinegar, instant coffee granules, and vanilla in a large measuring cup. Add to the dry ingredients and whisk just until combined - a few lumps are OK. Divide batter between pans, then bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30-40 minutes. Cool cakes on a rack for 15 minutes, then invert them onto the rack. Leave cakes upside down (this flattens domed cakes)to cool completely.


Glossy Chocolate Icing:

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.

Stir in sugar, cocoa, and salt. Mixture will be thick and grainy.

Combine heavy whipping cream, sour cream, and instant coffee granules in a large measuring cup, mixing until smooth. Gradually add cream mixture to chocolate until blended and smooth. Cook until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is smooth and hot to the touch, 6-8 minutes. Do not boil.

Off heat, add vanilla. Cool icing at room temperature until spreadable, 2-3 hours.(Icing may be chilled until competely cold, then warmed gently in mircowave until spreadable. Heat at high power in 20-second intervals, stirring well after each interval).