Simply The Best Chocolate Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two 9-inch-round cake pans with cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Whisk the cocoa powder and 1 1/2 cups boiling water in a medium bowl until smooth; set aside. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl until combined. Add the eggs, vegetable oil, sour cream and vanilla and beat with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the cocoa mixture in a steady stream until just combined, then finish mixing with a rubber spatula. (The batter will be thin.)
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans and tap the pans against the counter to help the batter settle. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer to racks and let cool 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the pans and turn the cakes out onto the racks to cool completely. Remove the parchment. Trim the tops of the cakes with a long serrated knife to make them level, if desired.

Steps:

• Grease and line three 8-inch (20 cm) cake tins with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
• In a large glass measuring cup, combine the stout, vanilla, and espresso powder. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until it is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, scraping down the sides occasionally to ensure all the ingredients are being evenly creamed together.
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next.
• Add the mayonnaise and beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
• Preheat oven to 325˚F (160˚C).
• Alternate adding the prepared dry and wet ingredients to the batter. Starting with about ⅓ of the dry ingredients, beat until incorporated. Then add ⅓ of the liquid ingredients, mixing until the batter comes together. Continue until all the wet and dry ingredients have been incorporated.
• Using a rubber scraper, fold the dark chocolate chunks into the batter.
• Distribute the batter evenly between the 3 prepared cake tins.
• Bake for about 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Place the cakes on a cooling rack and leave to cool for about 10-15 minutes, until the outside of the pan is cool enough to touch.
• Once the cakes have cooled, loosen the edges using a butter knife. Then place a large plate over the tin and invert to release the cake from the pan. Remove the parchment paper from the bottom of the cake and slide the cake back onto the cooling rack to cool completely. Repeat for the remaining two layers.
• While your cakes are cooling, prepare the buttercream.
• In a large bowl, beat together the butter and vanilla.
• Gradually add in the cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and milk, continuously beating until all the ingredients have been incorporated and the frosting is light and fluffy.
• Frost and decorate to your liking.
• Slice and serve.
• Enjoy!