The Clever Girls here at the store truly do live up to the title. Case in point: Kim's Chocolate Cake. This is the best-ever-piece-of-homemade-goodness-you'll-ever bake. And it's quite simple to make too; pastry proficiency is strictly optional. Now, Kim found this little gem of a recipe in an old file of clippings from newspapers and magazines. Being a good and righteous clever girl, she'd like to give credit where it's due, but there is no chef or date on the little torn out piece of paper. Therefore, if in the early 90's you invented this magic cake let us know, and we'll be happy to give you the accolades you so richly deserve. As it stands, our Kim the Clever put that little scrap to good use, and life is all the tastier for it. So, here it is: The Best Ever Chocolate Cake. Made and loved by clever girls everywhere...Chocolate Cake
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Baking Time: 55 minutes
Chilling time:30 minutes
Yield: 15 servings
1 1/2 cups cake flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1 1/2 tTeaspoons baking soda
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cup sugar
2 cups sour cream (not non-fat)
1 stick plus 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 t. vanilla
FOR CHOCOLATE FROSTING
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup whipping cream
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, cut into small pieces
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 Tablespoon vanilla
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour, coca, baking soda and salt into bowl of electric mixer; stir in sugar. Add sour cream, butter, eggs and vanilla. mix together in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed; increase speed to medium. Beat about three minutes. Transfer batter to greased and floured 9-by-13 inch pan; smooth batter with batter with spatula.
Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool completely on wire rack.
For frosting, stir sugar and cream in heavy 3-quart saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer 6 minutes; remove from heat. Stir in chocolate and butter until smooth; stir in vanilla. Refrigerate until set but not solid, about 30 minutes. Beat with wooden spoon until light and fluffy. Spread on cake.
