Ina Garten's Chocolate Cake

This is the only chocolate cake recipe you need. Everyone in my family loves it for their birthdays. I have made it many times and it always turns out perfect. It has a nice texture and is super chocolately. Top with a basic chocolate butter cream icing, as I have done here, or use a vanilla icing for a nice black and white cake.

For this cake I layered sliced strawberries and icing in the center. Try spreading raspberry or strawberry jam in the middle-it's delicious.

Ultimate Chocolate Cake

1 1/2  sticks unsalted butter at room temperature

2/3  cup granulated sugar

2/3  cup light brown sugar, packed

2  large eggs, at room temperature

2  teaspoons vanilla 

1  cup buttermilk, at room temperature

1/2  cup sour cream, at room temperature

2  tablespoons brewed coffee

1 3/4  cups all-purpose flour

1  cup good quality cocoa powder **

1 1/2  teaspoons baking soda

1/2  teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9 inch round cake pans. With an electric mixer cream the butter and two sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla. In a separate bowl whisk together the buttermilk, sour cream and coffee. In another bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. On low speed add one third of buttermilk mixture and then one third of flour mixture, repeat until everything is mixed in. Mix until blended, do not over mix. 

Divide batter between the cake pans and bake for 35-40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in pans for 30 minutes, then turn out onto a rack and cool completely.

Recipe is also good for cupcakes. Makes 12. Reduce cooking time to approximately 20-25 minutes.

**This is the cocoa I use, from Dean and Deluca.

This one tastes great too.

Chocolate Butter Cream Icing
1 1/2 cups soft unsalted butter (3 sticks)
2 tablespoons cream or milk
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup cocoa
2 cups confectioners' sugar (icing sugar)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt the chocolate chips over a double boiler. Set aside to cool. (I melt the chocolate in the microwave on very low heat, stirring often.)

In bowl of an electric mixer beat butter until creamy at medium speed. Add the melted chocolate, milk and vanilla and beat at low speed for 3 minutes. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar until incorporated and creamy.