Best Chocolate Layer Cake With Milk Chocolate Frosting Recipes

CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F/180C. Generously butter two 8-inch cake pans that are at least 2-inches high, and dust with cocoa powder, tapping the ramekins slightly to remove any excess.
• In a large bowl, place flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Mix until combined. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, mix together eggs, oil, vanilla, buttermilk, and water. Whisk until smooth. Add egg mixture into flour mixture and mix until smooth. Don't overbeat - batter will be lumpy at first, but mix gently and eventually stir with a whisk just until smooth. The batter will be very thin and liquid. That's ok.
• Scrape batter into prepared pans. Bake cakes for about 30-35 minutes (depending on your oven - this might take longer), or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan before unmolding, then let cakes cool completely on a wire rack.
• Assembling the cake: Set one layer on a plate with the flat side facing up (or, if your cake rose too much, cut its rounded top with a knife to make it flat - totally optional). Evenly spread about 1/3 of the frosting over the cake to the edge. Top with the second cake layer, rounded side up. Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake.
• Store cake in the fridge for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.

CHOCOLATE-FLECKED LAYER CAKE WITH MILK CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans, and line with parchment. Butter paper, and flour pans. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
• Beat together butter and sugars with a mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in yolk and eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with sour cream and milk, beginning and ending with flour. Fold in chocolate.
• Divide batter between pans, and spread evenly with an offset spatula. Bake until deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans 20 minutes. Invert cakes, remove pans and parchment, and let cool completely, right side up, on wire racks.
• Cut each cake in half horizontally with a serrated knife. Place 1 bottom layer on a platter or cake stand, and spread evenly with 3/4 cup frosting. Repeat with a second layer and another 3/4 cup frosting. Place third layer on top, and spread with another 3/4 cup frosting. Place fourth layer on top. Spread entire cake with remaining frosting (about 2 3/4 cups), smoothing top and sides. Serve immediately, or refrigerate, uncovered, up to 2 days; if refrigerated, let cake come to room temperature before serving.

THE BEST MOIST CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans and line the base with parchment paper.
• Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda into a large bowl. Add both sugars and salt and whisk to blend well, pressing out any lumps of brown sugar.
• Combine eggs, oil, sour cream and vanilla in a medium bowl and whisk to blend well. Pour into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix with an electric hand mixer on medium-low until blended. It will be thick and somewhat dry. Add the hot coffee gradually in two stages to minimize clumps forming and beat until evenly combined and the batter smooth.
• Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 30-33 minutes until cakes spring back when pressed gently and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer pans to a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes before inverting onto the rack to cool completely.
• Once cakes are cooled, cover them with my BEST Chocolate Fudge Frosting! The recipe is here.

MILK CHOCOLATE FROSTED LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°.
• Butter and flour two 9" -square cake pans; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the cake flour, cocoa and baking powder; set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter in the milk over low heat.
• Transfer to a large bowl and allow to cool slightly.
• Whisk in the egg yolks and 1/2 cup of the sugar.
• Add the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth; set aside.
• In a clean bowl, beat the egg whites with the salt until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and beat at medium-high speed until the whites are stiff and glossy.
• Fold beaten egg whites into the batter until no streaks remain.
• Divide the batter between the two cake pans and bake for 25 minutes, or until the cakes are springy and a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean.
• Transfer the cakes to a rack and allow to cool completely.
• While the cakes are cooling, in a medium saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a simmer.
• Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and pour the hot cream on top.
• Allow to stand for 3 minutes, then whisk melted chocolate until smooth.
• Let the frosting stand at room temperature, stirring occasionally, until thick enough to spread, about 1 hour.
• Turn the cakes out of the pans and put one layer on a plate.
• Top with 1 cup of the frosting, spreading it to the edge.
• Top with the second layer and spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides.
• Let the cake stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes before cutting into squares.
• Serve and enjoy.

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH MILK CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 9-by-2-inch round cake pans; line bottoms with parchment paper. Butter parchment; dust with cocoa powder, tapping out excess.
• In a medium bowl, whisk cocoa with hot water until smooth. Whisk in sour cream; let cool. Into a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine after each; scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture in two parts, alternating with the cocoa mixture and beginning and ending with the flour; beat until combined.
• Divide batter between prepared pans (or cupcake tins); smooth with an offset spatula. Bake until a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes (or 18 to 20 minutes for cupcakes).
• Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool 15 minutes. Invert cakes onto rack; peel off parchment. Re-invert cakes; let cool completely, top sides up.
• Make the frosting: Finely chop both the bittersweet and milk chocolates. Place into a mixing bowl. Set aside.
• In a small saucepan, bring heavy cream and corn syrup to a boil. Take off the heat and pour over chocolate. Let stand for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Starting in the center, whisk towards the edges of the bowl until the chocolate is smooth. Let cool at room temperature.
• Using a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, beat at medium speed and gradually add butter until frosting is smooth and silky.
• Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cake layers to make level. Transfer one of the layers to a cake turntable or platter to frost. With an offset spatula, spread top with 3/4 cup milk chocolate frosting. Place the second cake layer on top.
• For the crumb coat, spread the entire cake with a thin coat of frosting using an offset spatula. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Spread the entire cake with remaining frosting, swirling to coat in a decorative fashion. Serve immediately, or refrigerate, covered with a cake dome. Let sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving.

MILK CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Melt chocolate in a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Let cool slightly. Beat together butter, sugar, and salt with a mixer until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Gradually beat in chocolate, then sour cream, and beat until thoroughly incorporated. Frosting should be spreadable. If too loose, refrigerate, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Use immediately, or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate up to 3 days. Before using, bring to room temperature, and beat until smooth.