Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake

No kidding. . . BEST CAKE EVER!!! I know, everyone says that, but this is the real deal. No faking. Dense, moist, chocolatey, perfection. I made it for myself for mothers day. It was a huge hit with everyone. The frosting was silky, velvety, chocolate insanity! The recipe for the frosting actually came from one of my favorite blogs, www.ourbestbites.com. I have made MANY chocolate cakes, and none even come close to this recipe. The coffee is mandatory! It will not taste the same without it. You don't taste the coffee at all though. It just REALLY intensifies the chocolate. Also, I use dark chocolate cocoa powder. Makes a huge difference. This one's a keeper. . .unless I find something better, which I highly doubt I will!

Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake

Cake:
1 cup softened butter
3 cups packed brown sugar
4 eggs
3 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups flour
3/4 cup dark chocolate cocoa
3 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups strongly brewed coffee, cool
1 1/3 cups sour cream

1. Cream together butter and brown sugar and vanilla.

2. Add in eggs, one at a time.

3. Stir in vanilla.

4. In a separate bowl combine flour, cocoa, and baking soda.

5. Add dry ingredients to creamed ingredients alternately with coffee and sour cream.

6. Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9" pans.

7. Bake at 350 for about 20 to 30 minutes or until set.

8. Cool and Frost!

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Frosting:
16 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
8 Tbs unsalted butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbs corn syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp table salt
1 1/4 cups cold heavy cream

1. Melt Chocolate in microwave until smooth.

2. Meanwhile, heat butter in small saucepan over medium-low heat until melted.

3. Increase heat to medium; add sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, and salt and stir with heatproof rubber spatula until sugar is dissolved, 4-5 minutes.

4. Add melted chocolate, butter mixture, and cream to clean bowl of stand mixer and stir to thoroughly combine.

5. Place bowl in refrigerator and cool until thickened.

6. Place bowl on stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment and beat on medium-high speed until frosting is light and fluffy, 1-2 minutes.