Chocolate Layer Cake

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

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 3 cups icing sugar
• 6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped, melted and cooled
• 5 -8 strawberries, sliced

Recipe

• 1 chocolate cake:
• 2 grease two 8-inch (2l) springform pans or grease two 8-inch (1.2 l) round metal cake pans and line bottoms with parchment or waxed paper. set aside.
• 3 in large bowl, beat butter with sugar until light and fluffy.
• 4 beat in eggs, 1 at a time; beat in vanilla.
• 5 in separate bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• 6 with wooden spoon, stir into butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, making 3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 of buttermilk.
• 7 spoon into prepared pans, smoothing tops.
• 8 bake in centre of 350°f (180°c) oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean.
• 9 let cool on racks for 20 minutes. remove from pans; let cool completely on racks.
• 10 (make-ahead: wrap layers separately in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 day or overwrap with heavy-duty foil and freeze for up to 2 weeks.)
• 11 cut each cake horizontally into 2 layers.
• 12 chocolate icing:.
• 13 in bowl, beat butter until fluffy; gradually beat in cream.
• 14 beat in vanilla.
• 15 beat in icing sugar, 1 cup (250 ml) at a time.
• 16 beat in melted chocolate until fluffy and smooth.
• 17 place 1 layer, cut side up, on cake plate. slide strips of waxed paper between cake and plate.
• 18 spread cut side with about 3/4 cup (175 ml) of the icing; cover with remaining half, cut side down.
• 19 spread top with another 3/4 cup (75 ml) of the icing.
• 20 repeat with remaining layers, spreading remaining icing over side and top.
• 21 garnish with fresh sliced strawberries (optional).
• 22 remove paper strips. (make ahead: cover loosely and refrigerate for up to 2 days. let come to room temperature before serving.).