Ingredients
- Cake:
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup ground pecans
- 1/3 cup cocoa
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup sugar
- Chocolate Frosting:
- 2/3 cup sifted powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup cocoa
- 2 cups whipping cream
- 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Chocolate Glaze:
- 2 tablespoons cocoa
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
- 1 cup sifted powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
Step 1
Cake:
Grease bottoms only of 2 (9 inch) round cake pans. Line bottoms of pans with wax paper, grease wax paper. Set aside.
Beat egg yolks at high speed of an electric mixer, gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, beating until mixture is thick and pale. Combine flour and next 4 ingredients add to yolk mixture alternately with water, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in vanilla.
Beat egg whites at high speed of an electric mixer until foamy, gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold in batter. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake at 375 degrees for 16-18 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes, remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks.
Split cake layers in half horizontally to make 4 layers. Place 1 cake layer on serving plate, spread 1 cup chocolate frosting on top of layer. Repeat procedure with second and third cake layers and 2 additional cups chocolate frosting. Top stack with fourth cake layer. Spread remaining 1/2 cup chocolate frosting on sides of cake, gently press chopped pecans into frosting. Spread chocolate glaze over top of cake. Garnish if desired.
Chocolate Frosting:
Combine powdered sugar and cocoa in a large mixing bowl, gradually stir in whipping cream. Add vanilla, beat at low speed of electric mixer until blended. Beat at high speed until stiff peaks form.
Chocolate Glaze:
Combine first 3 ingredients in a small saucepan, cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Remove from heat, stir in powdered sugar and vanilla. Makes 1/3 cup.