Dark Chocolate Cake

Moist, rich, chocolaty perfection, something that every chocolate fan should taste, this is one of those must-have recipes.

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Hiya, Welcome to the CC, the place where chocolate dreams are made and come true.

My best friend Ted’s birthday is coming. For his 40th birthday, and after more than 30 years of friendship, I’ve decided to make him a special gift. Knowing how much he likes sweets and even more the Star Wars movies, I’ve come up with an idea to create a special atmosphere and ambience that he will remember! I bought the tickets for the premiere of “Star Wars Rogue 1”.

That’s how we first met.  Our fathers took us to the movies to watch “Return of the Jedi” in 1983, which seems to be ages ago. We sat next to each other and commented on the movie. After that we all went to the patisserie to eat some cake. I remember it like it was yesterday – a dark chocolate cake, and Ted commented: “It looks like Darth Vader’s favorite cake!”

And today I made exactly this kind of cake – Dark Chocolate Cake. As soon as the movie ends, I know Ted will expect that we go and eat cake just like every time and I’ll invite him over our house to try Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Cake.
It’s going to be Dar(th)k cake which amazes with its uniqueness and strength.

Ingredients

• CAKE
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup cocoa powder or Hershey’s Special Dark powder
• 1½ tsp baking powder
• 1½ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water (I used hot, strong coffee)
• FROSTING
• 8 Tbsp butter or margarine, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• ⅔ cup cocoa powder or Hershey’s Special Dark powder
• ⅓ cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 8-inch baking pans.
2. Stir together all dry ingredients to a large bowl.
3. Add eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla and beat on medium speed about 2 minutes.
4. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.
5. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in centre comes out clean.
6. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans to a wire racks and let to cool completely.
7. FROSTING
8. Beat butter in medium bowl until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency. If necessary, add a bit of milk to reach desired consistency.
9. Stir in vanilla. You will get about 2 cups of frosting.
10. ASSEMBLY
11. Place first layer of cake on cake plate. Spread about ½ cup of frosting on top in an even layer.
12. Add second layer of cake and add frosting on top in an even layer.
13. Add final layer of cake on top and frost the outside of the cake.
14. Finish off with chocolate curls or other decoration, and set in a fridge for a few hours before serving.

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Prep time : 25 mins

Cook time : 35 mins

Total time : 1 hour

Serves: 10-12