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Best Chocolate Cake Recipe

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With a tender crumb and rich frosting, a layered chocolate cake always impresses...no matter the occasion. One bite and you'll agree it's awesome!—Elvi Kaukinen, Horseheads, New York

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Best Chocolate Cake Recipe

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 20 min. + cooling

Yield: 16 Servings

20 20 40

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1-1/2 cups 2% milk
CHOCOLATE FROSTING:
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
4-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
Chocolate curls, optional

Directions

Line three 9-in. round baking pans with waxed paper; grease and flour the pans and paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and baking powder; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition.
Transfer to prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
For frosting, in a small heavy saucepan, melt chips and butter over low heat. Transfer to a large bowl; cool for 5 minutes. Stir in sour cream. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake. Garnish with chocolate curls if desired. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 16 servings.

Nutritional Facts 1 slice (calculated without chocolate curls) equals 578 calories, 25 g fat (15 g saturated fat), 89 mg cholesterol, 292 mg sodium, 88 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 6 g protein.

Originally published as Best Chocolate Cake in Taste of Home Christmas Annual Annual 2010, p56

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Reviews for Best Chocolate Cake (3)

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Reviewed on May. 14, 2012 by Foreverdixie

I made this for Mother's Day and it was wonderful! I used only 1 1/2 cups sugar and it was still sweet and yummy. Also used fat free milk and fat free sour cream just to make it healthier. It was great because the frosting is not overly rich but a perfect compliment to the moist and chocolatey cake.

Reviewed on Apr. 22, 2012 by deannasnz

Rich and delicious. I would recommend this special cake to anyone.

Reviewed on Feb. 14, 2012 by meagzan

This is honestly the best chocolate cake recipe I have ever made. The cake was very moist and the frosting was very rich. I would definitely make sure to have a glass of milk handy. What impressed me the most was actually how easy the recipe was to make. I can't wait to make this recipe again!