Don’t forget to go through the baking tips first, CHECK IT NOW!
This is rated as one of my best recipes. I still can’t get over the combined taste of cake with cream cheese frosting. There is something about it that is so addictive. I have friends fighting over this cake and I just can’t keep everyone happy…the demand is too high!
Prep time: 45 mins – Cook time: 30 mins – Assembly time: 20 mins – Total time: 95 mins
Ingredients:
Cake
- 120g soft unsalted butter (equals about ½ cup of butter)
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp red food-colour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk (If you don’t have buttermilk use 1 cup milk with 2 tablespoons vinegar stirred in)
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 3 tsp vinegar
Equipment:
| Measuring cups and spoons |
| 3 8 inch / 20 cm round cake pans |
| Standing or handheld electric whisk |
| Scale |
| Small bowl |
| Offset spatula |
| 1 large bowl if using handheld electric whisk |
| Turntable (or serving plate) |
See recipe for cream cheese frosting HERE.
How to…..
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit / 176°C.
Mix butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Turn the mixer up to high speed, slowly add the eggs and beat until well incorporated.
In a separate small bowl, mix together the cocoa powder, food-colour, and vanilla to make a thick, dark paste. Add to the butter mixture and mix until combined.
Turn the mixer down to slow speed and slowly pour in half the buttermilk. Beat until well mixed, then add half the flour, and beat until well incorporated. Repeat this process until all the buttermilk and flour have been added. Scrape down the side of the bowl again. Turn the mixer down to low speed and add the salt, bicarbonate of soda and vinegar. Beat until well mixed, then turn up the speed again and beat for 1-2 more minutes.
Pour equal amounts into the three cake pans and bake for about 25 minutes (+/- 5 minutes depending on your oven). Let it cool for 5-10 minutes and then remove from the pan and let it cool completely.
Once the cake is completely cool, using a knife or offset spatula, spread the frosting over the cake. Place one cake on the turntable or plate. Put about 1/4 cup of cream cheese on top of the cake and spread it with a spatula or knife. Place the second cake on top of it and repeat with the frosting. Then place the third layer, top side down. Now start frosting the sides of the cake using the spatula or knife. After you finish the sides, frost the top. I sprinkled some cake crumbs on top which I took from one of the cakes.
To see how to frost a cake, see this video HERE.