Ultimate Chocolate Cake

Name: Ultimate Chocolate Cake
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: American,
Ingredients: 1 cup boiling water; 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 3 oz semi-sweet chocolate coarsely chopped; 1 tbsp McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract; 2 1/2 cups flour; 1 3/4 tsps baking soda; 1 tsp baking powder; 1/4 tsp salt; 1 cup (2 sticks) butter softened; 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar; 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar; 4 eggs; 3/4 cup buttermilk; 2 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar; 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 1/4 tsp McCormick® Cinnamon, Ground; 6 oz (3/4 package) cream cheese softened; 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter softened; 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate melted and cooled slightly; 1 tbsp McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract

This special occasion cake is rich in chocolate flavor from the unsweetened cocoa powder and the semi-sweet chocolate. The Chocolate Fudge Frosting adds the decadent finish.

45m

PREP TIME

30m

COOK TIME

587

CALORIES

20

INGREDIENTS

Servings: 16

Ingredients

Chocolate Cake
1 cup boiling water
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon McCormick® All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
4 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
Chocolate Fudge Frosting
2 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon McCormick® Ground Cinnamon
6 ounces (3/4 package) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
1 tablespoon McCormick® All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract

KEY PRODUCTS

INSTRUCTIONS

1 Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round cake pans. Mix boiling water and cocoa powder in medium bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Add chopped chocolate; mix well. Let stand 20 minutes or until cooled; stirring occasionally. Stir in vanilla. Set aside. Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Set aside.
2 Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Beat in cocoa powder mixture until well blended. Alternately beat in flour mixture and buttermilk on low speed until just blended. Pour batter into prepared pans.
3 Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire rack.
4 For the Frosting, mix confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder and cinnamon in medium bowl until well blended. Set aside. Beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually beat in cocoa mixture on low speed until well blended. Gradually beat in melted chocolate then vanilla until well blended. Fill and frost cake with Frosting.