★Ingredients
For the Cake
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
½ cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
For the Frosting
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
5 cups powdered sugar
1 ½ cups unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
★Instructions
For the Cake
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
- Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt.
- Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla to the dry ingredients. Beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes.
- Boiling Water: Stir in the boiling water. The batter will be thin, but this is normal.
- Bake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then remove them from the pans and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the Frosting
- Butter and Cocoa: In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until creamy. Gradually add in the cocoa powder, beating until well combined.
- Add Sugar and Milk: Add the powdered sugar alternately with the milk, beating to spreading consistency. Start and end with the powdered sugar.
- Vanilla and Salt: Add the vanilla and salt, and beat on high for about 1 minute until light and fluffy.
Assembling the Cake
- Layer: Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread with a layer of frosting.
- Stack and Frost: Place the second cake layer on top and frost the top and sides of the cake.
- Decorate: Decorate as desired. You can add chocolate shavings, sprinkles, or other toppings of your choice.
Tips
- Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature before starting.
- If the frosting is too thick, add a bit more milk. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar.
- For extra moistness, you can brush each cake layer with a simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, heated until sugar dissolves) before frosting.
Enjoy!