Classic Chocolate Cake

I've told my story on the blog before so at the risk of being redundant - I will do my best to summarize concisely.  I met my soul mate when I was 10.  We went on our first date when we were 15 and we made the commitment to spend our lives together at the ripe old age of 22. 💒  Of course, we had it all figured out - in a way that only 2 young twenty somethings could. 😅  We had it so together, in fact, that me moved across the country and welcomed our first baby before we reached the age of 24.👶🏻 😂 

I definitely feel like we grew up together in a way that a lot of couples don't get to experience.  I will only speak for myself when I say that I've changed and grown and evolved into the person that I am today - as a result of having this incredible person in my life for the last 40 years.  If you're privileged enough to know him, you know that he's got a heart of gold and loves with reckless abandon.  #toknowhimistolovehim

He's my complete opposite in so many ways and yet I still have no doubt that he's the perfect person to spend my life with.  If you're an enneagram person - he's a 7 and I'm a 1.  Basically, he's the optimistic, find the fun in every situation, life of the party kind of guy.  I'm the perfectionist, planner, introverted, organizer extraordinaire.     ​

We're different.  VERY different.  One of us is a land lover who enjoys anything with water.  The other likes to have his head in the clouds.✈️  For years, my better half has worked towards earning his IFR certification.   Those of you in the flying world, already know what that means - and for the rest of the population who doesn't understand airplane lingo (including me) - this means that my favorite pilot can now have his head (and airplane) in the clouds. ☁️  ​

So many sacrifices, study sessions, test flights and prayers went into achieving this monumental goal.  This was an achievement worthy of celebration.  And in this house - we celebrate all major accomplishments the way that everyone should - with dessert. 🎂  And my family's celebration dessert of choice is unquestionably - chocolate cake.  ​

Classic Chocolate Cake
Cake
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons cocoa
2 1/2 cups + 2 Tablespoons sugar
2 1/2 cups + 2 Tablespoons flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
3 teaspoons vanilla
6 eggs + 3 egg yolks
18 Tablespoons butter, softened

Frosting
1 1/2 pounds semisweet chocolate
12 Tablespoons butter
1/2 cup sugar
3 Tablespoons corn syrup
3 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups heavy cream

Combine chocolate, hot water and cocoa.  Microwave until melted.  

Add 1/2 c. sugar and stir until thick and glossy.   

Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. 

Combine buttermilk and vanilla.  

Whisk eggs and yolks until combined. 

Add 1 1/4 c. sugar and whisk 2-3 minutes on high.  

Replace whisk with paddle and add chocolate mixture to mixer.  

Beat in butter, 1 Tablespoon at a time. 

Add flour in 3 batches, alternating with buttermilk.  

Divide batter between 3 greased, parchment lined 9" baking pans.  

Bake 28-30 minutes at 350.

Melt chocolate for frosting.  

Melt butter in saucepan.  

Add sugar, corn syrup, vanilla and salt. 

Beat cream, chocolate and butter mixture in bowl of standing mixer.

Place mixer bowl in an ice bath and stir until thickened.  

Beat frosting with paddle attachment until light and fluffy.  

Place 1 cake layer on serving platter.  

Spread 1 1/2 cups frosting over cake. 

Repeat or top with final cake layer and frost top.   

Frost sides with remaining frosting.

Enough said.  😅

​Ciao!

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