Secret Ingredient Dark Chocolate Cake Food

BLACK CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350˚. Brush the bottoms and sides of two 9-inch round cake pans with vegetable oil and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda and baking powder in a medium bowl. In a separate medium bowl, combine the chopped chocolate and instant coffee; pour in the boiling water and let stand 5 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Combine the sour cream, vegetable oil and vanilla in a liquid measuring cup (it will look curdled).
• Beat the eggs and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly add the coffee-chocolate mixture; beat until combined. Beat in the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the sour cream mixture in two batches, until just incorporated. (Keep the mixer on low as you add the ingredients, then increase the speed to medium briefly between additions to beat out the lumps.) The batter should look like hot fudge.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes in the pans, then run a knife around the edges and remove the cakes to a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Whisk the eggs, 1/4 cup milk, the sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch and salt in a medium bowl until smooth (the mixture will be thick). Heat the remaining 1 1/4 cups milk in a saucepan over medium heat until just steaming. Gradually whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture, then pour the entire mixture into the pan. Bring to a boil, whisking (the mixture will become thick like pudding very quickly). Continue cooking 30 to 60 more seconds to thicken further, whisking vigorously, then remove from the heat. Pour into a bowl and press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface. Refrigerate until cold, 3 to 4 hours.
• Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals until melted; let cool slightly. Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and creamy, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir the cocoa pudding mixture to loosen, then gradually beat into the butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Beat in the melted chocolate. Continue beating, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Trim off the domed tops of the cakes with a long serrated knife. Put one cake layer on a platter. Spread 1 cup frosting on top, then top with the other cake layer. Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving.

TOP SECRET CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 10-cup Bundt pan with baking spray.
• Mix together the cake mix, milk, butter, eggs, chocolate chips and vanilla in a large bowl until completely combined. Pour into the prepared Bundt pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.
• Let the cake cool for about 15 minutes before turning it out onto a cooling rack. Allow to cool completely, an additional 20 to 25 minutes.
• For the simple chocolate ganache topping: Meanwhile, heat the cream in a small pan until just bubbling. Add the chocolate chips to a small bowl and pour the hot cream over the top. Let sit for 1 minute, then mix until smooth.
• Transfer the cake to a cake stand or serving platter and pour the ganache over the top, allowing it to drip down the ridges. Sprinkle with rainbow sprinkles and serve.

SECRET-INGREDIENT DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease three 8-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper.
• Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and baking powder into a large bowl.
• Combine stout, vanilla extract, and espresso powder in separate bowl and stir.
• Beat sugar and butter together in another bowl until creamy, scraping sides occasionally. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition. Beat in mayonnaise. Alternate adding the flour and stout mixtures, 1/3 at a time, beating after each addition. Fold in dark chocolate just until combined. Split batter between the 3 prepared pans and level out the tops.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the cakes comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool in the pans for 15 minutes, then run a knife around the edge and flip onto a cooling rack. Let cool completely.

DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Grease and flour two 9 inch round baking pans or one 13x9 inch pan.
• In large mixer bowl, stir together dry ingredients.
• Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
• Stir in boiling water by hand (batter will be thin). NOTE: I have tried it with 1/2 cup, 2/3 cup and 3/4 cup boiling water and we prefer it with less than 1 cup water. I usually use between 2/3 & 3/4 cups. The cake is still very moist but it doesn't seem to "fall" as much as it cools. This might have to do with our high humidity or brand of flour or other factors so I don't know if it will work for everyone.
• Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes for round 9-inch pans, 35 to 40 minutes for rectangular pan or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. (Do not use 8-inch pans or the batter will overflow.).
• Because they have a tendency to overflow if you fill them more than 2/3 full, I usually get about 27-28 cupcakes per batch. Bake for approximately 18-20 minutes.
• Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to wire racks.
• Please note: baking cocoa isn't hot chocolate drink mix! Baking cocoa contains no sugar and it is found on the baking aisle. Chocolate drink mixes that you add to milk or water to drink WILL NOT work in this recipe.