Mile High Chocolate Cake

I can't believe believe it has been 10 days since my last post. That has never happened! I guess life got in the way of baking, but I have something amazing for you. 

First of all it is my birthday today. Ahhh! I turned 21! and I should probably feel all grown up, but I don't. I still get excited for presents, candles and most of all - THE CAKE. I actually spotted this recipe a few weeks ago, and bookmarked it straight away. I knew it would be my birthday cake. I think this cake is the ultimate birthday celebration cake! It is so moist with delicious chocolate frosting layers, but most of all it is tall. I mean it is the tallest cake I have ever made (mile high was the first clue). It can feed a lot of people! I have a small stand mixer, so it could barely contain all the cake batter. I had some pink swiss meringue buttercream leftover from a different cake, so I used it in the middle. It looked pretty and balanced out all the chocolate!

The result was wonderful, but most importantly I got to spend the day with my family and got awesome presents. 

Mile High Chocolate Cake

Adapted From Gourmet

Printable Recipe

For cake

• 5 oz fine-quality unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 2 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 2 3/4 cups sifted cake flour (not self-rising; sift before measuring)
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-process)
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature 30 minutes
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups sour cream

For frosting

• 1 cup sugar
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-process)
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 4 oz fine-quality unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 6 sticks (1 1/2 pound) unsalted butter, at room temperature

• Equipment:

  2 (8- by 2-inch) round cake pans

Make cake:

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter cake pans, then line bottom of each with a round of parchment paper and butter parchment. Flour pans, knocking out excess.
• Melt chocolate with butter, then cool.
• Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• Beat eggs, sugars, and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until pale and thick, 3 to 5 minutes. At low speed, mix in melted chocolate until incorporated, then add flour mixture in 3 batches alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture and mixing until each addition is just incorporated. Spread batter evenly in pans and rap pans several times on counter to eliminate air bubbles.
• Bake until cakes pull away from sides of pans and a wooden pick inserted in center of each comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes.
• Cool in pans on a rack 10 minutes, then run a knife around edges of pans. Invert onto racks and discard parchment, then cool completely, about 1 hour.

Make frosting and assemble cake:

• Whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, then add milk and cook, whisking constantly, until mixture boils and is smooth and thick, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in chocolate and vanilla until smooth. Transfer to a bowl to cool to room temperature, covering surface with parchment paper to prevent a skin from forming.
• Beat butter with an electric mixer until creamy, then add cooled chocolate mixture a little at a time, beating until frosting is fluffy and spreadable.
• Cut each cake horizontally into 2 layers with a long serrated knife. Put 1 layer on a cake stand or large plate and spread top with 1 1/4 cups frosting. Repeat with 2 more layers, then add remaining layer and spread top and side of cake with remaining frosting.

Notes:

• Cake layers can be made 2 days ahead (but not split horizontally) and kept, wrapped tightly, at room temperature.
• Frosting can be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered. Bring to room temperature (about 1 hour) and beat until fluffy before using.
• Cake can be frosted 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.