This Black Magic Cake is rich and chocolaty with velvety chocolate buttercream frosting. When it comes to chocolate cake this one is king.
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time40 minutesmins
Total Time1 hourhr15 minutesmins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate cake, best chocolate cake, chocolate buttercream, black magic cake, easy chocolate cake, layer cake
Servings: 12slices
Calories: 795kcal
Ingredients
1 3/4cupsall-purpose flour
2cupssugar
3/4cupbaking cocoa
2teaspoonsbaking soda
1teaspoonbaking powder
1teaspoonsalt
2eggs
1cupcoffeecooled to room temperature
1cupbuttermilk
1/2cupvegetable oil
2teaspoonvanilla
Frosting
1cupsalted buttersoftened
1cupsemi-sweet chocolate chips
6cupspowdered sugar
3ozheavy whipping creamI prefer 40% fat
1-2Tablespoonalmond extract
Instructions
A great cake is baked in such a way that it rises flat and doesn't need to be leveled! The sides and bottom will be more tender and the entire cake is taller and more fluffy. See the full tutorial here.
For The Cake
Preheat your oven to 350 F.
Line two, 9" round cake pans with parchment paper. Butter the sides of the pan and use a smear of butter to tack the parchment to the bottom of the pans.
In a mixing bowl combine all the dry ingredients. If your baking cocoa is lumpy, put it through a sieve before adding it. Stir until dry ingredients are mixed.
In a second mixing bowl combine all the wet ingredients. Add the dry to the wet and mix until smooth. The batter will be runny.
Divide the batter equally between the two pans. Bake at 350F for 35-40 minutes. Be careful not to check the cake before 30 minutes. Use the oven light to see how the cake is doing. When you observe it pulling away from the sides it is time to check it. The cake should spring back to the touch.
Cool and remove from pans.
For The Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
In a stand mixer beat together everything except the chocolate.
Melt the chocolate in a microwave 15-20 seconds at a time, stirring in-between. When the chocolate is melted with no lumps remaining, add to the frosting and beat until fluffy and light.
Frost the first layer of cake, then stack the second layer on top and cover with frosting.
Serve with vanilla or amaretto ice cream for the perfect dessert.