CHOCOLATE CAKE PERFECT

By gaster16

Ingredients

• FROSTING:
• 1 cup unsifted unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2-3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2-1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 package (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate pieces
• 1/2 cup light cream
• 1 cup butter or margarine
• 2-1/2 cups unsifted confectioners sugar
• FILLING:
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled
• 1/4 cup unsifted confectioners sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

Step 1

In medium bowl combine cocoa with boiling water, mixing with wire whisk until smooth. Cool completely. Sift flour with baking soda, baking powder and salt. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease well and lightly flour three 9" x 1-1/2" cake pans.

In large bowl of mixer at high speed, beat butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until light (about 5 minutes) scraping bowl occasionally. At low speed, beat in flour mixture (in fourths) alternately with cocoa mixture ( in thirds), beginning and ending with flour mixture. Do not over beat.

Divide batter evenly into prepared cake pans, smooth top. Bake 25-30 minutes or until surface springs back when pressed with fingertip. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Carefully loosen sides with spatula, remove from pans cool completely on wire racks.

FROSTING:

In medium saucepan, combine chocolate pieces, cream and butter, stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from heat. With whisk blend in 2-1/2 cups confectioners sugar. In bowl set over ice, beat until frosting holds it shape.

FILLING:

Whip cream with confectioners sugar and vanilla, refrigerate. Assemble cake. 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.

With spatula, frost sides first, covering whipped cream, frost top with remaining frosting, swirling decoratively. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.