Ladies Home Journal Their Best Chocolate Cake Recipes

BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line three 9-in. round baking pans with waxed paper; grease and flour the pans and paper. Set aside., In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and baking powder; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition., Transfer to prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a small heavy saucepan, melt chips and butter over low heat. Transfer to a large bowl; cool for 5 minutes. Stir in sour cream. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake. If desired, top with chocolate curls. Refrigerate leftovers.

LADIES HOME JOURNAL - THEIR BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Cake: Place the cocoa powder in a small saucepan.
• Gradually stir in the buttermilk.
• Turn on heat and bring to a boil, stirring nonstop until smooth.
• Let stand until completely cooled.
• In a large bowl beat the butter until creamy.
• Slowly add the sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
• Add the eggs and mix well.
• Add vanilla and blend.
• Add all of the dry ingredients.
• Stir.
• Add the cooled cocoa mixture and beat until well blended.
• Bake in two 9" cake pans for 28-30 minutes.
• Cool completely.
• Frosting: Bring the powdered sugar and the cream to a full boil in a medium-size saucepan, stirring until smooth.
• Remove from heat.
• Add the chocolate and stir until completely smooth.
• Add vanilla and mix.
• Stir occasionally until the mixture has the consistency of thick mayonnaise.
• Beat the butter until creamy and gradually blend the butter and chocolate mixture together.
• Frost the cake.

THE PERFECT CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• In medium bowl, combine unsweetened cocoa with 2 cups boiling water, mixing with wire wisk until smooth.
• Cool completely.
• Sift flour with soda, salt and baking powder.
• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Grease well and lightly flour three 9-by-1 1/2-inch layer-cake pans.
• In large bowl, with an electric mixer at high speed, beat butter with sugar, eggs and vanilla, scraping bowl occasionally, until light and fluffy-about 5 minutes.
• At low speed, beat in the flour mixture (in fourths), alternately with the cocoa mixture (in thirds).
• Begin and end with flour mixture.
• Do not overbeat.
• Divide evenly into pans; smooth top with spatula.
• Bake 25-30 minutes, or until surface springs back when gently pressed with fingertip.
• Cool in pans 10 minutes.
• Carefully loosen sides with spatula.
• Remove from pans; cool on racks.
• Make frosting: In medium saucepan, combine chocolate pieces, cream butter; stir over medium heat until smooth.
• Remove from heat.
• With wisk, blend in 2 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar.
• Turn into bowl; place over ice set in a larger bowl.
• Beat until frosting holds shape.
• Make filling: Whip cream with sugar and vanilla.
• To assemble: On plate, place a layer, top side down; spread with half of cream.
• Place second layer, top side down; spread with rest of cream.
• Place third layer, top side up.
• To frost cake: With metal spatula, frost sides first, covering whipped cream; use rest of frosting on top, swirling decoratively.
• Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
• To cut, use a thin-edged sharp knife; slice with a sawing motion.