This chocolate cake recipe is one of my favorites, aas well as one of the simplest you can have under your belt, all it takes is a watchful eye, and a steady hand! At the end of the recipe I'll make sure to link to some resources that have benefited me while I continue to practice and learn.
About the recipe.
Cake ingredients
This recipe will use a majority of the same ingredients as the previous two, save for the additions of buttermilk and cake flour. With going into too much detail, the lactic acid in buttermilk helps give cakes and other baked goods a more tender texture and better flavor.
- 2 2/3 cup(295g) cake flour
- 1/4 cup(22g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup(115g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cups(350g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup (120ml) canola or vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
- 1 1/3 cups(320ml) buttermilk, room temperature
One of the most important things to remember about baking is the quality of your ingredients, will reflect in the quality of your dish. So always look for the brands that are going to have the best taste, without breaking your bank of course!
The recipe:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit(177 Celsius), and prepare your choice of cake pan(s) by greasing them with non-stick spray or butter, and lining them with parchment paper
- In a large mixing bowl, sift together your cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt, then whisk them to combine.
- Next, cream together your butter and sugar, for about 4-5 minutes, until they formm a cohesive mass, then add your eggs one at a time, mixing until each is incorporated before adding the next.
- Once this is done, mix in the oil, extract and vinegar, making sure to scrape down the sides to make sure everything is incorporated.
- Finally, mix in your dry ingredients and buttermilk in 5 parts, 3 parts dry, 2 parts buttermilk, alternating between the two, and fully incorporating them each time. Make sure not to overmix!
- Once your cake batter comes together, pour it into your prepared pan or pans, and bake at 350 for 30 inutes, or until a knife inserted at the center comes out clean.
Notes
This is an excellent chocolate cake for most occaisions, though how you frost it is completely up to taste. One of the most typical types of frosting is buttercream, which is just a simple combination of 1-2 cups unsalted butter, 6-8 cups powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, and a small amount of water when necessary.
