Elegant Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• Makes (2) 9-inch round cakes

Cake

• 1/3 cup cocoa
• 3 cups cake flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 cup butter, at room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup water
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Frosting

• 1 cup butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup cocoa
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 4 cups confectioners’ sugar sifted
• 4 Tablespoons milk
• *Optional: 3-4 Tablespoons light corn syrup

Dark Chocolate Drizzle

• 1 cup dark chocolate chips
• 2 Tablespoons butter

Garnish

• walnut halves
• chocolate cake sprinkles

Directions

Cake

1. Preheat oven to 3500F.
2. Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans with butter.
3. Whisk together cocoa, flour, salt and baking soda in a bowl and set aside.
4. Place butter and sugar together in a mixing bowl and use an electric mixer on medium speed to beat until light and fluffy.
5. Add eggs one at a time and beat after each addition until fully and incorporated.
6. Mix in buttermilk, water and vanilla.
7. Add flour mixture and mix until it is fully incorporated.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans.
9. Place into the preheated oven and bake for 25 - 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
10. Remove from oven and place onto cooling racks.
11. Once cool enough to touch turn the cakes out of pans onto the wire racks and let cool completely.

Frosting

1. Place butter, cocoa, and vanilla into a mixing bowl and beat with medium speed until fluffy.
2. Mix in sugar, then beat for about 5 minutes. Beat in milk until incorporated.
3. If icing is too thick add light corn syrup until you reach desired consistency.

Dark Chocolate Drizzle

1. In a small pot melt chocolate and butter on low heat, stirring until smooth. Shut off and set aside.

Assembly

1. Place the bottom layer onto a cake plate and spread the frosting on, then place the top layer and frost on the top and on sides of cake.
2. Press chocolate cake sprinkles on the sides and sprinkle on top. Serve slice of cake with whole walnuts and a drizzle of dark chocolate drizzle.