Devil’s Food Cake ( sinfully delicious )

When I’ve got time and I’m in need of a real ” chocolate fix ” I bake this cake.  It’s sinfully delicious.

Devil’s Food Cake

• 3 squares unsweetened baking chocolate
• 1 cup butter, at room temperature
• 2 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups + 2 tbsp. sifted flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F.  Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans; set them aside.
2. Place the chocolate in a small heavy saucepan, and melt over low heat, stirring constantly.  Remove the pan from the heat and set it aside.
3. Cream the butter and brown sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer.  With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Stir in the melted chocolate.
4. Combine the flour, baking soda, and the salt.  Alternating between the two, add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the chocolate mixture in three stages, ending with flour  then slowly stir in the boiling water and the vanilla.
5. Pour the batter into the two prepared pans, and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a layer comes out clean 30 minutes
6. Remove the pans from the oven and let the layers sit for 5 minutes.  Then invert the pans over wire racs, releasing the cake, and let the cake cool completely.
7. Using a long thin spatula, cover the top of 1 layer with the following chocolate frosting.  Place the second layer on top, and frost the top and sides of the cake.

Chocolate Frosting

• 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 8 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup icing sugar

1. Combine the chocolate and butter in a small heavy saucepan, and melt over very low heat.
2. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the milk and vanilla, and transfer the mixture to  a mixing bowl.
3. Add the sugar gradually, beating with an electric mixer.  Continue beating until the mixture is smooth; it will be runny.
4. Refrigerate the mixture for 1 hour, beating it every 15 minutes.  ( the frosting will stiffen )