Favorite Chocolate Cake

This Favorite Chocolate Cake recipe is made with a blend of cocoa, brown sugar, sour cream, and hot water, and is perfectly complemented by creamy chocolate frosting. Ideal for birthdays, special occasions and lovers of chocolate.

Recipe Information

Total Time:

Yield:

12 servings

Ingredients

2⅔ cups all-purpose flour

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tablespoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup butter, softened

3 cups packed brown sugar

4 large eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1⅓ cups sour cream

1⅓ cups hot water

Creamy Chocolate Frosting

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans. In a medium bowl stir together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; set aside.
In a large bowl beat butter on medium speed of electric mixer for 30 seconds; beat in brown sugar until well blended. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, alternately add dry ingredients with sour cream, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
Stir in the hot water; beat at low speed just until blended.
Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center of cakes comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes on wire racks. Remove from pans; cool completely on racks.
To assemble, place one cake layer top side down on platter. Spread top with a generous ½ cup Creamy Chocolate Frosting. Repeat with another cake layer and generous ½ cup frosting. Top with remaining cake layer, top side up. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining frosting.