perfect chocolate cake

How To Make perfect chocolate cake

• 1

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees; grease and flour 3 9\" round cake pans.
• 2

  Combine cocoa and boiling water, stir until smooth, then set aside.
• 3

  Cream butter, gradually add sugar, beating well at medium speed of an electric mixer; add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• 4

  Combine flour, soda, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternating with cocoa mixture, beating at low speed of an electric mixer, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
• 5

  Stir in the vanilla - Do not overbeat.
• 6

  Pour in pans and bake 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• 7

  Cool pans 10 minutes, then remove the cake from pans; cool completely.
• 8

  Spread filling between layers; spread frosting on top and sides - Chill until serving time.
• 9

  Filling: Beat whipping cream and vanilla until foamy.
• 10

  Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until soft peaks form.
• 11

  Chill.
• 12

  Yield: 2 cups
• 13

  Frosting: Combine chocolate, half and half, and butter in a heavy saucepan; cook over medium heat, stirring until chocolate melts.
• 14

  Remove from heat; add powdered sugar, mixing well.
• 15

  Set saucepan in ice, and beat at low speed of an electric mixer until the frosting holds its shape and loses its gloss.
• 16

  Add a few more drops of half and half if needed to make spreading consistency.
• 17

  Yield: 2 1/2 cups
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