Dark Chocolate Cake

By Addie

“Chocolate cake was Grandma's favorite, and this was her favorite chocolate cake.”

Ingredients

• 1 cup plus 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder, divided
• 2 cups each all-purpose flour and granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/8 teaspoons salt, divided
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 cups whipping cream
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened Dutch cocoa powder

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Grease a 13 × 9-inch baking pan.


Sprinkle 1 teaspoon cocoa in bottom of prepared baking pan.


Combine the flour, granulated sugar, remaining cocoa, butter, eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, baking powder and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl and mix well.


Dissolve baking soda in boiling water in a small heatproof bowl. Add to flour mixture and mix well. Spoon batter into prepared baking pan.


Bake cake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let stand until cool.


Beat 12/3 cups whipping cream in a mixer bowl with an electric mixer set at high speed until stiff peaks form. Combine remaining whipping cream, confectioners' sugar, Dutch cocoa, remaining vanilla and remaining salt in a medium bowl and mix well. Fold into whipped cream. Spread over cake.