Oh, to be 8 again!! But you know when you hit 8 years old it is a big deal!! My Grand daughter Anna, wanted a Doll Birthday Cake for her 8th birthday, and I aimed to please! The birthday girl was pleased and excited.
Now, if your kids are like my Grand kids, they lick off all the frosting, and the cake goes in the garbage! But that’s what Birthdays are for, having your cake and eating it (er, in this case, not eating it) too!
Here’s a recipe for a Chocolate Cake, that just might make them go ahead and eat that cake too! This is my Mother-in-law’s favorite cake.
Perfect Chocolate Cake
By: Southern Living
Cake:
1 Cup Unsweetened cocoa
2 Cups Boiling water
1 Cup Butter or margarine, softened
2 1/2 Cups Sugar
4 Large Eggs
2 3/4 Cups Flour
2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla extract
Filling:
1 Cup Whipping Cream
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar, sifted
Frosting:
1 Cup Semi-sweet chocolate Chips
1/2 Cup Half and half cream
3/4 Cup Butter
2 1/2 Cups Powdered sugar, sifted
Cake:
1. Combine cocoa and water; stir until smooth. Set aside.
2. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer about 2 minutes or until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating 5 to 7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears.
3.Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; add to butter mixture alternately with cocoa mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low spped just until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Do not overbeat.
4. Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9 inch round cakepans. Bake at 350° for 22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans, on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
5. Spread Whipped cream filling between layers; spread Perfect Chocolate Frosting on top and sides of cake. Chill.
Whipped Cream Filling:
1. Beat whipping cream and vanilla until foamy; gradually add powdered sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Cover and chill.
Perfect Chocolate Frosting:
1. Combine first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan; cook over medium heat, stirring until chocolate melts. Remove from heat; add powdered sugar, mixing well.
2. Place saucepan in a large bowl of ice. Beat at low speed with an electric mixer until frosting holds its shape and loses its gloss. Add a few drops of half and half, if needed, to make a good spreading consistency.
Here’s the Birthday Girl with her cake. I used a white crusting buttercream for the frosting that you can find here.
