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Perfect Chocolate Cake

SUBMITTED BY: BCMASON PHOTO BY: JudyTubbs

"An incredibly moist, rich, triple layer chocolate cake with whipped cream filling and chocolate buttercream frosting. This was always a favorite in our house!"
Original recipe yield 1 - 3 layer 9 inch round cake

SERVINGS

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Servings
 

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  •  
  • 1 pint heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  •  
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 9 inch round cake pans. Stir together the cocoa and boiling water from the first set of ingredients. Set aside to cool. Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder, set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Add the dry ingredients alternately with the cocoa mixture. Mix only until combined. Divide evenly between the three prepared pans, and spread the batter out flat.
  3. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, and the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan. Cool cakes on a wire rack.
  4. In a medium bowl, whip the heavy cream and vanilla. When the cream becomes thick, add the confectioners' sugar and continue to whip until stiff but not too grainy. Divide into three parts and spread onto two of the cooled layers. Stack the layers onto a nice plate, putting the two creamed ones on the bottom. Place the plain layer on the top. If there is a hump on the top of the cake, trim it off with a long serrated knife. Frost the sides with the chocolate buttercream frosting.
  5. To make the frosting, beat the remaining ingredients, butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and cocoa until light and fluffy, about 7 to 10 minutes. Frost sides of the cake, leaving a ridge that sticks up over the top edge. Spread the remaining cream filling over the top of the cake. Garnish with sprinkles, chocolate curls or seasonal fresh fruit.
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REVIEWS

The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Mar. 29, 2007 by Loo
Magnificent!!!!!! I can't BELIEVE anyone gave this cake a poor rating. They must've... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Apr. 10, 2006 by flowergyaru
I am not a cook, in fact, I haven't baked a cake since I was a kid, but it was my boyfriend's... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Nov. 25, 2004 by LJ8677
Simply the best chocolate cake! I sometimes use hot coffee in place of the water just to kick... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 1 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Apr. 10, 2006 by BOADACHIA
I have given so many recipes on this site 5 stars, but this cake disappointed me in every way.... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 24, 2003 by shaggy
Oh boy! Let me catch my breath...Wow! This cake is rich, dark, chocolatey, moist, perfect... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Nov. 7, 2006 by Little 6 Pak
Wow! I added a really large, melted Hershey bar and a package of chocolate pudding to this... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Oct. 9, 2006 by CookieTobacco
This is my favorite chocolate cake recipe of all time. I make the cake part exactly to this... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Mar. 22, 2005 by Betty
I just made this cake for my father-in-laws birthday and it turned out absolutely fantastic! ... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Nov. 22, 2005 by Darcy
I am an amateur cook in every sense of the word, but this cake was very very easy to make and... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 24, 2003 by TSCHERRER