Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Icing & Chocolate Buttercream

Here is another cake that I love! I made this cake a few weeks ago and it is so good and very moist! 

To make the chocolate cake you will need:

• 2 cups SUGAR
• 1 & 3/4 cup FLOUR
• 3/4 cup COCOA POWDER
• 1 & 1/2 tsp BAKING POWDER
• 1 & 1/2 tsp BAKING SODA
• 1 tsp SALT
• 2 EGGS
• 1 cup MILK
• 1/2 cup VEGETABLE OIL
• 2 tsp VANILLA EXTRACT
• 1 cup BOILING WATER

Start off by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F and coating three 8 inch baking dishes in nonstick cooking spray and then flour to make the cake easier to remove from the dish after baking. 

In an electric mixer combine the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Next, add the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and the boiling water making sure each ingredient is incorporated before adding the next.

Then divide the batter equally into the three baking dishes and bake for 30-35 minutes.  Bake until you can insert a toothpick and have it come out clean. Let the cakes cool for at least 10 minutes before removing from the baking dishes. 

Tip: If you aren't in a rush, wrap each layer of cake cling wrap and put it in the freezer over night (or at lest for a few hours). This makes the cake much easier to assemble!

To make the chocolate buttercream you will need:

• 2 sticks BUTTER, softened
• 1 & 3/4 cup COCOA POWDER, sifted (1 cup)
• 6 cups POWDERED SUGAR, sifted (4 cups)
• 1/2 cup + 3 Tbs MILK
• 2 tsp VANILLA EXTRACT

To make the buttercream, use an electric mixer to cream the butter using the paddle attachment. Once the butter is smooth, turn the mixer down to a low speed and start adding the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. When you've added about half of the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, add the milk and vanilla. After all of the powdered sugar and cocoa powder has been added, turn the mixer up to medium speed and continue mixing for 3 minutes. If the icing is too stiff, add some more milk. If the icing is not thick enough, add more powdered sugar. 

Tip: To make the chocolate buttercream more fudge-like (as seen on the cake with the chocolate chips on top) leave out one stick of butter when making the icing.

I didn't think the cream cheese icing from the website I found the cake and buttercream recipe was that amazing, so instead I've been using my mother-in-law's recipe (it is delicous!).  

To make the cream cheese icing you will need:

• 1 sticks BUTTER, softened
• 3 & 3/4 cups POWDERED SUGAR, sifted
• 1 (8 oz.) package of CREAM CHEESE, sifted
• 2 tsp VANILLA EXTRACT

Using an electric mixer cream the butter and cream cheese together using the paddle attachment. Once the mixture is smooth, turn the mixer down to a low speed and start adding the powdered sugar. After all of the powdered sugar has been mixed in, add the vanilla. Then turn the mixer up to medium speed and continue mixing for about 3 minutes to make sure everything if fully incorporated. 

For this cake, I put the cream cheese icing between the layers and frost the outside with the chocolate buttercream!

The cake was a hit!

I have actually halved the recipe when I made for just my husband and me. I still made a three layer cake, I just used small Pyrex dishes rather than normal sized cake pans. It lasted about a week and a half before it was all eaten and I didn't notice it starting to taste old so that’s good too when you aren't feeding many people!

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Chocolate Cake 

  Ingredients:

• 2 cups SUGAR
• 1 & 3/4 cup FLOUR
• 3/4 cup COCOA POWDER
• 1 & 1/2 tsp BAKING POWDER
• 1 & 1/2 tsp BAKING SODA
• 1 tsp SALT
• 2 EGGS
• 1 cup MILK
• 1/2 cup VEGETABLE OIL
• 2 tsp VANILLA EXTRACT
• 1 cup BOILING WATER

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and coating three 8 inch baking dishes in nonstick cooking spray and then flour to make the cake easier to remove from the dish after baking. 
2. In an electric mixer combine the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. 
3. Add the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and the boiling water making sure each ingredient is incorporated before adding the next.
4. Divide the batter equally into the three baking dishes and bake for 30-35 minutes.  Bake until you can insert a toothpick and have it come out clean. Let the cakes cool for at least 10 minutes before removing from the baking dishes. 
5. Tip: If you aren't in a rush, wrap each layer of cake cling wrap and put it in the freezer over night (or at lest for a few hours). This makes the cake much easier to assemble!

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Cream Cheese Icing
  

  Ingredients:

• 1 sticks BUTTER, softened
• 3 & 3/4 cups POWDERED SUGAR, sifted
• 1 (8 oz.) package of CREAM CHEESE, sifted
• 2 tsp VANILLA EXTRACT

Directions:

1. Using an electric mixer cream the butter and cream cheese together using the paddle attachment. 
2. Once the mixture is smooth, turn the mixer down to a low speed and start adding the powdered sugar. 
3. After all of the powdered sugar has been mixed in, add the vanilla. 
4. Turn the mixer up to medium speed and continue mixing for about 3 minutes to make sure everything if fully incorporated. 

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Chocolate Buttercream
  

  Ingredients:

• 2 sticks BUTTER, softened
• 1 & 3/4 cup COCOA POWDER, sifted
• 6 cups POWDERED SUGAR, sifted
• 1/2 cup + 3 Tbs MILK
• 2 tsp VANILLA EXTRACT

Directions:

1. Use an electric mixer to cream the butter using the paddle attachment. Once the butter is smooth, turn the mixer down to a low speed and start adding the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. When you've added about half of the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, add the milk and vanilla. 
2. After all of the powdered sugar and cocoa powder has been added, turn the mixer up to medium speed and continue mixing for 3 minutes. 
3. If the icing is too stiff, add some more milk. If the icing is not thick enough, add more powdered sugar. 
4. Tip: To make the chocolate buttercream more fudge-like (as seen on the cake with the chocolate chips on top) leave out one stick of butter when making the icing.

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The website where you can find the chocolate cake and chocolate buttercream recipe is:

http://thenonpareilbaker.blogspot.com/2011/09/chocolate-cake-with-cream-cheese.html