Chocolate Cake

It's always a good time for cake right?  Whether you are having a bad day, or you are having a celebration, or for no reason at all - cake makes it better.  Pair it with a tall glass of milk, and you will forget all that's wrong with the world......

This cake makes me happy because it reminds me of my favorite childhood treat - Suzie Q's.  A few months ago I made Suzie Q cupcakes and I loved it so much that I decided to make a cake with that recipe.  A dense cake, with a light whipped frosting.  It's heaven.  Oh yeah, one bite and nothing else mattered......just me and my cake ☺


Chocolate Cake

For the Cake: 

2 & 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda 

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 & 1/4 cups cocoa powder, sifted
1 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter at room temp
2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 large egg yolk

1 tsp vanilla
2 cups ice water

Frosting:

5 cups confectioner’s sugar
scant 1/2 cup hot/boiling water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened

1 cup shortening

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour 2, 9 or 10 inch cake pans and set aside.

 

Cake: In the bowl of an electric mixer add the sugar and butter and mix until well blended. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, then add the yolk and the vanilla and mix until combined. Add the cocoa and beat until well blended. In a separate bowl whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Add the flour mixture in 3 additions alternatively with the ice water, beginning and ending with the flour mix and beating until just blended and smooth after each addition. Divide the batter evenly between the two cake pans.

Place in oven and bake until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25-35 minutes. Cool in the pans completely before frosting.

Frosting: Add the confectioner’s sugar to the bowl of an electric mixer. With the mixer running on low, slowly add the boiling water. Next add the vanilla and salt and mix until combined. Add the butter and shortening and continue to beat on low for about 20 seconds. Turn the mixer to medium-high and let it go for 15 minutes. It should be very light and fluffy when done.