Black Velvet Espresso Chocolate Cake

Do you ever have a hankering for just the richest, most delectable chocolate cake? Welcome to my every day life.

Chocolate cake is the ultimate comfort food. And this one, does not disappoint. I promise you, once you make this chocolate cake, you will never make another one again. It is a little more complicated than buying the boxed stuff, but hey, if we put the work in, we earn that chocolate cake. We slaved over that chocolate cake.. and so we will EAT that chocolate cake. NO ragrets. (not even a letter)

I think you should know this cake comes with a warning: If served to others, one will be forced to recreate this cake time and time again. It will be asked for, it will be requested. So pay close attention, because you can't make this just once.

What sends this cake over the edge? Espresso. and did I mention dark, velvety chocolate?

You get the picture. And if not, here's one for reference:

First you want to grease and powder your cake pans. I put rounds of parchment paper in the bottom of each, rubbed the pans with a stick of butter, and then powdered them with flour and cocoa powder. Trust me: those cakes were not going to stick.

Finely chop your dark chocolate and combine it with your hot coffee. Let it stand, stir slightly, until the chocolate is melted. Set aside to cool.

This is the point in the recipe where you debate just stopping here and drinking your dark chocolatey coffee and forgetting the cake.

In a large bowl, combine your flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

In a separate bowl with an electric mixer, beat your eggs unit they thicken and turn a bright yellow color.

3-5 minutes.

Slowly add buttermilk, oil, vanilla, and melted chocolate mixture to eggs, mixing until combined. Add sugar mixture, and beat until combined. 

Divide your batter between your two cake pans, only filling them 2/3 of the way full, to prevent from bubbling over. 

Heaven. 

Bake in middle of the oven for one hour, or until tester comes out clean in the middle.

Now, for the icing. I 100% improvised on a chocolate ganache and it came out somewhat like a thick glaze. I took the remaining chocolate and melted it in a sauce pan over medium heat, added some powdered sugar, and milk (heavy cream will work better, I did not have any on hand.) It turned out perfectly, and so easy. It leaves a thin, glossy, rich, finish.

Messy, but perfection. 

Find the full recipe below! .... and eat at your own risk :)

Full Recipe:

3 ounces fine-quality semisweet chocolate
1 1/2 cups hot brewed coffee

3 cups sugar

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)*
2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
3 large eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups well-shaken buttermilk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 300°F. and grease pans. Line bottoms with rounds of parchment paper and powder pans with flour and cocoa powder. 
2. Finely chop chocolate and combine with hot coffee. Stir occasionally,  until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Set aside to cool.
3. In a large bowl combine sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl with an electric mixer beat eggs until thickened and a bright yellow color (3-5 minutes). Slowly add oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and melted chocolate mixture to eggs, beating until combined. Add sugar mixture and beat until combined. 
4. Divide batter between pans (being sure not to fill pans higher than 2/3 full) and bake in middle of oven until a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes.
5. For your icing: Melt 4oz semi-sweet chocolate on stove top over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 cup of milk (heavy cream may work better if you have it on hand). Stir constantly to prevent chocolate from burring. Once cake is done, pull from oven and allow to cool completely. Ice the top of one cake half, place the second half on top and drizzle ganache topping over top. 
6. Eat endless amounts of chocolate cake until your heart is complete.