Chocolate Torte

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup baking cocoa
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup butter, cubed
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Recipe

• 1 in a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.
• 2 add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• 3 beat in vanilla.
• 4 whisk cocoa and water until smooth.
• 5 combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with cocoa mixture. beat until smooth.
• 6 pour into three greased and floured 9" round baking pans. bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• 7 cool for 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks.
• 8 filling:.
• 9 in a mixing bowl, beat cream, confectioner's sugar and vanilla on high speed until soft peaks form.
• 10 chill until firm.
• 11 frosting:.
• 12 in a saucepan, melt chips and butter over medium heat; stir in cream.
• 13 remove from the heat; stir in confectioner's sugar.
• 14 chill for at least 1 hour or until completely cooled.
• 15 beat with electric mixer to achieve spreading consistency.
• 16 prep:.
• 17 spread half of the filling over one cake layer; top with second layer and remaining filling.
• 18 top with third layer; frost top and sides of cake.
• 19 chill for 2 hours before cutting.
• 20 yield: 12 servings.