Chocolate Base Cake - Cake Bible - Good

By mariannefeldman

Perfect All American Choc Butter Cake p54-similar to All Occasion Downy Yellow Butter Cake
Base p 493 Cake Bible
see p 490 for master chart for dif sized pans

used for checkerboard cake

as written in Baking Bible-(2) 9" layers or 22 cupcakes
Bake cupcakes for 16- 20 mins

Ingredients

• Unsweetened cocoa powder -Dutch process:
• 3 tbs & 1 1/2 tsp (dip & sweep method) = 0.75 oz = 21 grams
• added instant espresso
• water (boiling) 1/3 liquid cup (use glass measure cup =
• 2.75 oz = 78 grams
• 1 large egg = 3 tbs & 1/2 tsp = 1.75 oz = 50 grams (weighed w/o shells)
• vanilla: 3/4 tsp = 0.11 oz = 3 grams
• sifted cake flour: 3/4 cup & 2 tsp = 2.75 oz = 79 grams
• sugar: 1/2 cup = 3.5 oz = 100 grams
• baking powder: see amts for dif cake pan sized p493
• salt: 1/4 tsp = 0.05 oz = 1.67 grams
• unsalted butter (softened): 5 tbs & 1 tsp = 2.66 oz = 75.67 grams
• Total batter weight: 13.65 oz/390 grams plus baking powder

Preparation

Step 1

see book for baking soda amts, multip factors for pan sizes & baking times for pan sizes
Preheat oven to 350
Whisk together cocoa powder & boiling water til smooth, cool to room temp
In another bowl combine eggs, 1/4 of cocoa mixture & Vanilla
In large mixing bowl combine remaining of dry ingred & mix on low speed for 30 sec to blend
Add butter & remaining cocoa mixture.
Mix on low speed til the dry ingred are moistened
Inc to med speed (high if using hand mixer) & beat for 1 1/2 mins to aerate develop cakes structure
Scrape down sides of bowl
Gradually add egg mixture in 3 batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition to incorporate the ingredients & strengthen the structure
Scrape down sides of bowl
Scrape batter into prepared pans & smooth surface with a spatula
The pans will be ab 1/2 full
See p for 490 for amt baking time for size of pan-tester near center will come out clean & cake springs back when touched lightly in center
The cake should start to shrink from sides of pan only after removal from oven
Let cakes cool in pans on racks for 10 mins
Loosen sides & invert onto greased racks
To prevent splitting reinvert so that the top are up & cool completely before wrapping airtight