Kittencal's Best Deep Dark Chocolate Layer Cake

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla (or use 2-3 tablespoons favorite liqueur)
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup cocoa powder (sifted)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup softened butter
• 1/3 cup whipping cream (unwhipped)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup cocoa
• 4 cups icing sugar, sifted

Recipe

• 1 set oven to 350 degrees f.
• 2 line bottoms of two buttered 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
• 3 in a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar, until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes).
• 4 add in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• 5 beat in vanilla and coffee granules.
• 6 sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
• 7 add the flour mixture into the creamed mixture, alternating with the buttermilk, in three additions, scraping down the sides of bowl each time.
• 8 divide batter between prepared pans.
• 9 bake for 30-35 minutes, or until cake tests done.
• 10 turn onto a rack and remove paper.
• 11 cool and frost.
• 12 for frosting: beat butter until creamy.
• 13 blend in cream and vanilla; beat until very smooth.
• 14 add the cocoa and icing sugar.
• 15 beat on high for 45 seconds.