Worlds Best Chocolate Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line three 9-in. round baking pans with waxed paper; grease and flour the pans and paper. Set aside., In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and baking powder; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition., Transfer to prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a small heavy saucepan, melt chips and butter over low heat. Transfer to a large bowl; cool for 5 minutes. Stir in sour cream. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake. If desired, top with chocolate curls. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit/170 degrees Celsius. Grease a 9-inch/23-centimeter round springform pan with butter and line with parchment paper, then set aside.
• Make the cake: Place butter, chocolate and hot coffee in a large heatproof bowl and mix well until everything is melted, combined and smooth. Whisk in sugar by hand until dissolved. Add eggs and vanilla extract and whisk again until thoroughly combined and smooth. Sift flour, cocoa powder and salt together into a bowl and then whisk this into the melted chocolate mixture. The batter here is liquid, but don't think you have missed something; this is how it should be.
• Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour, or until the cake is cooked and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few dry crumbs attached. The top will form a crust and crack a little, but don't worry, this is expected. Leave the cake to cool for 20 minutes before removing from the pan, then set aside until completely cool.
• Make the chocolate ganache, if desired: Place chocolate pieces in a food processor, process until fine and set aside. Combine cream and corn syrup in a small pan and place over medium-high heat. As soon as bubbles begin to appear (just before it comes to a boil), remove from the heat. Get the food processor running again, with the chocolate still inside, and pour in the hot cream in a steady stream. Process for 10 seconds, then add butter. Continue to process until mixture is shiny and smooth. (You can also make the ganache by hand; just make sure the chocolate is chopped fairly finely before adding the cream mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon until almost melted, then add the butter. Stir again until the ganache is smooth.)
• Use a rubber spatula to scrape the ganache into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, with the plastic actually touching the top of the ganache. Set aside until it has set to the consistency you want. If you want a thin layer to spread over the cake, it can be poured over while liquid so that you get an even, light and shiny coating. For a thicker ganache with a spreading consistency, leave it for about 2 hours at room temperature. (The ganache can be stored at room temperature, providing it's not too warm, for 3 days or kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. It can also be frozen, although it will lose a bit of its shine when defrosted.)
• Make the espresso cinnamon mascarpone cream, if desired: Place all the ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat for 1 to 2 minutes, until soft peaks form.
• Peel the parchment from the cake and discard. Transfer to a serving platter and spread the ganache, if using, on top of the cake. Slice into wedges, divide the cake among plates and, if using, spoon the mascarpone cream alongside. With or without icing, the cake will keep well for 4 to 5 days in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Mix together sugar and flour and set aside.
• Bring cocoa, butter, water, and oil to a rapid boil.
• Remove from heat and immediately sift in sugar mixture.
• Beat eggs and slowly stir into hot mixture.
• Add buttermilk, baking soda and vanilla.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes in a greased 9 X 13 pan.
• Use your favorite frosting to coat, or sprinkle on powder sugar for a garnish.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans.
• In a microwave-safe glass bowl, melt butter and chocolate together in microwave on HIGH until melted and smooth, about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring half-way through. Set aside. Mix flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl until blended.
• Add sour cream, eggs, 1 cup water, chocolate mixture and vanilla; beat 30 seconds on low speed, until dry ingredients are moistened. Increase to medium; beat 2 minutes. Pour into prepared pans.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 32-40 minutes or until cake layers spring back when pressed (I baked mine for 35 minutes and it was a little too much . . . but every oven is different!).
• Cool layers in pans for 10 minutes. Remove cakes onto rack to cool completely.
• In a microwave-safe glass bowl, melt chocolate in microwave on HIGH for 1 minute. Stir until smooth. Set aside. Beat shortening, butter, sour cream, milk, vanilla, salt, 1 cup of the sugar and the cocoa powder in a medium-size bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in remaining sugar and melted chocolate until thick and smooth.
• Place a cake layer on a pedestal (I just used a large plate. . . I have yet to invest in a pedestal!) Spread with about 2/3 cup frosting. Top with second layer; spread with about 2/3 cup more frosting. Top withremaining layer. Frost top and sides. Garnish with chocolate curls and berries if desired

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients in large bowl at medium speed until combined.
• Grease 9X13 pan.
• Pour mixture in pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.