Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake

By ForkAndTheCork

Ingredients

• For the cake:
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 Cups sugar
• 1/2 Cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 Cups hot water
• 3/4 Cup vegetable oil
• 2 Tablespoons distilled white vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon instant coffee granules
• 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
• For the Chocolate icing:
• 1 Stick unsalted butter (8 Tablespoons)
• 1 1/2 Cups sugar
• 1 1/4 Cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• pinch of salt
• 1 1/4 Cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 Cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preparation

Step 1

For the cake:

Preheat oven to 350 with a rack in the center. Spray two 8 X 2 inch round cake pans with non stick spray.

Whisk together flour and sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.

Combine Water, oil, vinegar, instant coffee, and vanilla in a large measureing cup. Add to the dry ingredients just until combined. A few lumps are ok. Divide batter between pans, then bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool cakes on a rack for 15 minutes, then invert them onto the rack. Leave cakes upside down to cool completely.

For icing:

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.

Stir in sugar, cocoa, and salt. Will be thick and grainy.

Combine heavy cream, sour cream, and instant coffee in a large measuring cup, mixing until smooth. Gradually add cream mexture to chocolate until blended and smooth. Cook until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is smooth and hot to the touch, 6-8 minutes. Do not boil.

Off heat, add vanilla. Cool icing at room temp until spreadable, 2-3 hours.

Ice and enjoy!