Classic Chocolate Layer Cake
Serves
12
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
30 min
Print Recipe
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 ¾ cups (440 mL) all-purpose flour, sifted
- ¾ cup (175 mL) cocoa powder, sifted
- 2 tsp (10 mL) instant espresso powder
- 1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder
- 1 tsp (5 mL) baking soda
- ¾ tsp (4 mL) salt
- 1 cup (250 mL) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 ⅔ cups (420 mL) granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla
- 1 ½ cups (375 mL) buttermilk
Frosting
- ¾ cup (175 mL) cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 8 oz (230 g) bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled
- ¼ cup (60 mL) cocoa powder, sifted
- ¼ tsp (1.25 mL) salt
- 3 cups (750 mL) icing sugar, sifted
- ⅓ cup (75 mL) milk
- 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
Instructions
Cake
- Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and line two 9-inch (23 cm) round cake pans with parchment paper. Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt until combined; set aside.
- Step 2
Using electric mixer, beat butter with sugar until light and fluffy; beat in eggs, one at a time, making sure each egg is fully incorporated be-fore the next addition. Beat in vanilla.
- Step 3
With mixer on low, alternately add the flour mixture in 3 parts and buttermilk in 2 parts, starting and ending with flour mixture; scrape down the bowl as needed between additions.
- Step 4
Pour batter into prepared pans; smooth top. Bake until tester comes out clean when inserted into centre, approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to rack; let cool completely.
Frosting
- Step 1
Using electric mixer, beat butter on high speed until light and creamy; beat in melted and cooled chocolate, cocoa powder and salt until smooth. Beat in icing sugar. Stir in milk and vanilla; beat until creamy.
- Step 2
If frosting is too soft to spread, refrigerate for 5 to 10 minutes. Smear a little frosting on a serving plate to prevent the cake from sliding. Place the first cake in the centre of the plate and spread 1 cup (250 mL) of frosting on top. Top with second cake layer; frost the top and sides of cake with remaining frosting. Refrigerate cake for at least 2 hours before serving.
Tips
For a sweeter frosting, use semi-sweet chocolate instead of bittersweet.
If you don’t have buttermilk, add 1 tbsp (15 mL) lemon juice or white vinegar to a measuring cup; fill with milk to measure 1 cup (250 mL) to make 1 cup (250 mL) buttermilk.
Nutrition Facts
| Per serving | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 610 |
| Fat | 30 g |
| Saturated Fat | 19 g |
| Trans Fat | 1 g |
| Carbohydrate | 78 g |
| Fibre | 3 g |
| Sugars | 60 g |
| Protein | 6 g |
| Sodium | 380 mg |