Best Under A Spell Chocolate Cake Recipes

BASIC CHOCOLATE CAKE

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.

SANDY'S CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour three 9-in. round baking pans., In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, beating well after each addition. Stir in water until blended., Transfer to prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a metal bowl over simmering water, melt butter and chocolates; stir until smooth. Cool slightly., In a large bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, sour cream and vanilla. Add chocolate mixture; beat until smooth. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate leftovers.

CLASSIC CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating until smooth after each addition. Pour batter into a greased and floured 13x9-in. baking pan. , Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. When cake is cool, dust with confectioners' sugar or top with your favorite frosting.

UNDER-A-SPELL CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with shortening; line with cooking parchment paper.
• Make cake batter as directed on box. Divide batter evenly among 3 pans.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove from pans to cooling racks; remove parchment paper. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Place 1 cake layer on cardboard round. Frost top with 1/3 cup frosting. Top with second cake layer; frost top with 1/3 cup frosting. Top with third cake layer; frost top and side of cake with thin layer of frosting to form a crumb coat. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Place 1/3 cup frosting in 1-quart resealable food-storage plastic bag; set aside. Remove cake from refrigerator; frost top and side. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave candy melts uncovered on High 30 to 60 seconds, stirring every 15 seconds, until melted. Holding pretzel rod on one end, spread melted candy melts to cover three-fourths of the rod. Place rod on piece of cooking parchment or waxed paper; sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sprinkles to cover. Let stand about 15 minutes or until sprinkles are attached to rod.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and whipping cream uncovered on High 45 to 60 seconds, stirring every 15 seconds, until melted and smooth. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes or until chocolate has cooled and mounds slightly when drizzled from spoon.
• Remove cake from refrigerator; place on cooling rack with cooking parchment or waxed paper under rack. Pour chocolate mixture on center of cake, spreading to edge of cake, allowing some to drip down sides.
• Place sprinkle-covered rod off center on top of cake; push into cake slightly so it is at an angle. Cut off one corner of bag with reserved frosting. Pipe frosting around rod, going upward to form large mound around base. Sprinkle top of cake with candy sprinkles.
• Press 2 candy-coated chocolate candies on side of cake. Use icing pen to make small circle in center of each chocolate candy to create an "eye." Place 6 slivered almonds around two eyes to look like claws. Repeat with remaining candies and almonds around side of cake. Refrigerate 30 minutes to harden.
• Transfer cake to serving plate when ready to serve. Decorate small brown bag as desired, and place on top of sprinkle-covered rod. Use piece of crumpled foil to fill inside of bag to maintain shape if needed. Store covered at room temperature; remove rod when covering cake for storage.