Sandy’s Chocolate Cake

Name: Sandy's Chocolate Cake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 16 servings.
Cuisine: Comfort Food Desserts, Comfort Food Recipes
Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened; 3 cups packed brown sugar; 4 large eggs, room temperature; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup baking cocoa; 3 teaspoons baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1-1/3 cups sour cream; 1-1/3 cups boiling water; FROSTING:; 1/2 cup butter, cubed; 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped; 3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped; 5 cups confectioners' sugar; 1 cup sour cream; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Years ago, I drove 4-1/2 hours to a cake contest, holding my entry on my lap the whole way. But it paid off. One bite and you'll see why this velvety beauty was named the best chocolate cake recipe won first prize. —Sandra Johnson, Tioga, Pennsylvania

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Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
3 cups packed brown sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa
3 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/3 cups sour cream
1-1/3 cups boiling water
FROSTING:
1/2 cup butter, cubed
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
5 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour three 9-in. round baking pans.
In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, beating well after each addition. Stir in water until blended.
Transfer to prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
For frosting, in a metal bowl over simmering water, melt butter and chocolates; stir until smooth. Cool slightly.
In a large bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, sour cream and vanilla. Add chocolate mixture; beat until smooth. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 685 calories, 29g fat (18g saturated fat), 115mg cholesterol, 505mg sodium, 102g carbohydrate (81g sugars, 3g fiber), 7g protein.

Reviews

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Average Rating:

LBurkey

Feb 15, 2020

This cake was easy to make and looks so pretty when finished. It is moist and very yummy. Satisfies the cravings of the biggest chocolate fans.
HowardPutler

Feb 9, 2020

Not a fan of this cake. Was quite dense and tasted Like dark chocolate with all brown sugar and cocoa. The frosting was excellent.
pamelabyington

Feb 7, 2020

Best chocolate cake I have ever had. Have recipe taped inside a kitchen cupboard door.
Parula100

Feb 6, 2020

I didn't want to make a 3-layer cake, so I cut the recipe in half and baked it in a 9" X 7" Pyrex pan for about 25 minutes and it turned out perfectly. The cake is very good. The frosting was creamy and thick, but perhaps just a little bit too sweet. But overall, a great-tasting cake!
Cyndi

Feb 5, 2020

This is a delicious cake but I have difficulty getting the layers out of pans intact and frosting it because it’s so delicate. What am I doing wrong?
Sunny

Feb 5, 2020

I only have two 8-1/2" pans. How do I adjust the ingredients and will it look bad with 2 tiers.
2sewcrazy

Dec 31, 2019

This is my newest favorite cake! Delicious!!! I did make 1.25x the frosting so I could really load up the entire cake with extra frosting! Yum!
nashona

Dec 27, 2019

The best cake. Will make again
Linda Meyers

Dec 8, 2019

This cake is everything Sandy said it was! Worth the effort. It has become my "go to" when I need an impressive cake for a special occasion.
lailabakes

Oct 21, 2019

I have a feeling the people who did not get a rise in the cake used baking powder instead of baking soda.