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old fashioned chocolate cake

Ganieda avatar
Recipe by
Karen Feinen
@Ganieda
Rochester, NY

Basic old fashioned chocolate cake with a chocolate ganache frosting. Make the frosting first so it can chill while you're making the cake.

yield 12 serving(s)
prep time 10 Min
cook time 30 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For old fashioned chocolate cake

  • CHOCOLATE GANACHE
  • 12 oz
    (2 cups) semisweet chocolate chips
  • 2 c
    heavy (whipping) cream
  • CAKE
  • 2 c
    all-purpose flour
  • 2 c
    granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp
    baking soda
  • 1 c
    water
  • 1/4 c
    unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 c
    (2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 1/2 c
    plain yogurt or buttermilk
  • 2 lg
    eggs
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla extract
  • for garnish: chocolate curls (see note) and confectioner's sugar

How To Make old fashioned chocolate cake

  • 1
    CHOCOLATE GANACHE: Put chocolate chips into a large (not plastic) bowl. Bring cream to a boil in a medium saucepan. Pour cream over chocolate and stir until melted and smooth. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm enough to spread.
  • 2
    Adjust racks to divide oven in thirds. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease three 8-inch layer cake pans. Line bottoms with parchment; grease parchment.
  • 3
    CAKE: Mix flour, sugar and baking soda in a large bowl.
  • 4
    Put water and cocoa powder into a saucepan. Add butter in small chunks. Stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil and the butter melts.
  • 5
    Pour over flour mixture and beat with whisk or electric mixer until blended.
  • 6
    Beat in yogurt, eggs and vanilla until blended. Batter will be thin.
  • 7
    Pour into prepared pans. Stagger pans on oven racks and bake, switching position of pans once to ensure even layers, 25 - 30 minutes until a pick inserted in center of cakes comes out clean.
  • 8
    Cool in pans on wire rack 10 minutes. Invert cakes on rack and peel off paper. Turn cakes right side up and cool completely.
  • 9
    Place 1 layer on serving plate. Spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Repeat with second layer. Spread remaining frosting over sides and top of cake.
  • 10
    Garnish with chocolate curls, then dust with confectioner's sugar.
  • 11
    NOTE FOR CURLS: Hold a bar or square of semisweet chocolate in your hands until barely softened. Slowly and firmly pull a swivel blade vegetable peeler across chocolate to make curls.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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