Chocolate Buttermilk Layer Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9-inch cake pans and set aside. Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and vanilla.
• Using a mixer on medium speed, beat the butter until creamy. Over the course of 3 minutes, beat in the sugar. Over 2 minutes, add the egg mixture. Reduce the speed to low and alternate adding the flour and buttermilk in three parts, scraping the bowl.
• Divide the batter between the pans and smooth the tops. Bake until light golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes, then unmold onto a rack to cool completely before frosting.
• To frost cake, place 1 layer on a cake plate, rounded side down, trimming if necessary so it lies flat. Spread with a third of the frosting, top with the second layer and frost the remainder of the cake.

Steps:

• Prep the cake materials: Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 F. Butter two 9 x 2-inch round cake pans with a pastry brush, dust the interiors with flour, tap out the excess and line the bottoms with rounds of parchment or wax paper. Put the pans on a baking sheet.
• For the cake: Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Beat the butter until soft and creamy in a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl. Add the sugar and beat until it is thoroughly blended with the butter, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl halfway through for even mixing. Add the eggs yolks one at a time, then the eggs one at a time, beating for 1 minute after each addition and scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low. Beginning with the dry ingredients, alternate adding the dry ingredients and the buttermilk; add the dry ingredients in 3 portions and the buttermilk in 2. Mix only until each new batch is blended into the batter (i.e., do not overmix). Scrape down the bowl and, if you want, add the melted chocolate, folding it in with a rubber spatula. Divide the batter between the cake pans. Bake for 26-30 minutes, or until the cakes feel springy to the touch and start to pull away from the sides of the pans.
• For the chocolate malt buttercream: Add the chocolate and half the brown sugar to a heatproof bowl; set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water to temper (melt) the chocolate and sugar, making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water. Meanwhile, whisk the malt powder and cocoa together in a small bowl; add 3 tablespoons of boiling water and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
• In the stand mixer, preferably fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until soft and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the remaining brown sugar and beat until well blended, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in the salt and vanilla extract, then reduce the mixer speed to low.
• When the chocolate and sugar are melted, remove heatproof bowl from the saucepan. Whisking the melted chocolate gently, gradually pour in the malt-cocoa mixture and stir to thoroughly incorporate: it should be dark, smooth, and glossy. Add this chocolate mixture to the stand mixer and mix until smooth, pausing to scrape down the bowl. Still working on low speed, gradually add the confectioners' sugar. When all the sugar is in, raise the mixer speed to medium and beat for a couple of minutes. If the frosting is too thin, pop it in the fridge for a few minutes.
• Remove the cakes from the oven; transfer to racks and cool for about 5 minutes. Run a knife around the sides of the cakes, unmold them, and peel off the paper liners. Invert and cool to room temperature right side up. (Note: Once the layers are cooled, they can be wrapped airtight and left at room temperature overnight or kept frozen for up to 2 months.)
• Assemble the cake: Place one layer on a cardboard round or a cake plate protected by strips of wax or parchment paper. Frost the top of the layer, then cover with the second layer of cake. Frost the top and sides (optional) of the cake, smoothing the buttercream for a sleek look or using a spatula, knife, or spoon to swirl it for a more exuberant look. Remove the paper strips after the cake is frosted. Refrigerate the cake for at least 1 hour (or for up to 1 day, if that's more convenient) to set the frosting, then bring it to room temperature before serving.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 9-inch cake pans with nonstick spray, and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• 2. Place flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, mix on low to combine. Keeping the mixer on low , add oil, buttermilk, then eggs one at a time. Add hot coffee in a thin stream, pouring down the side of the bowl. Add vanilla and mix until batter is smooth. Divide into pans and back until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs, about 30-35 minutes. Let cool in pans for at least 20 minutes.
• 3. Create a double boiler by filling a saucepan with 2 inches of water and bringing it to a boil. Place chocolate chips and cream in a stainless steel mixing bowl (I used glass) and set on top of simmering water, Allow mixture to melt-do not stir right away, When chocolate has melted, stir it with a whisk. Allow to cool at room temperature.
• 4. Remove cakes from pans. Place one layer of cake on a serving plate. Trim the top with a serrated knife to make it even (although I didn't find this necessary). Place a scoop of ganache in the middle and smooth it out to the edges using a palette knife or spatula. Trim the top off the other layer and place the untrimmed side down on the top of the frosted layer, pressing gently. Spoon more ganache on the top and smooth it around the sides, adding more ganache as needed to cover. If you need to apply a second coat of ganache, put the cake in the refridgerator for no more than 15 minutes to set before adding a second coat (although I found myself with a surplus of frosting). Makes a single 9-inch layer cake.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans. Cut parchment paper circles to fit the bottoms of the pans and fit into the bottom of the cake pans.
• In a free standing mixer, add both sugars and butter until light and creamy. Beat in eggs, vanilla, and tomatoes. In a separate large bowl, combine cocoa, cake flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Beat cocoa mixture into butter mixture alternately with the buttermilk, in 3 additions. Pour into prepared pans. Bake cakes for 32 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean and tops of cake spring back at the touch. Cool cakes for 15 minutes. Carefully remove from pans and cool completely on racks.
• Meanwhile, Prepare whipped ganache filling: In a large saucepan, heat 1 cup cream to boiling. Stir in chocolate. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Cool ganache completely. In a separate bowl, whisk remaining 1 cup cream until soft peaks form. Stir in ganache mixtue, stirring gently to not deflate cream. Refrigerate until assembly time.
• Prepare frosting by combining butter and cream cheese in a large bowl. Beat until fluffy. Stir in buttermilk, salt, vanilla, and lemon juice. Beat in enough powdered sugar in 1/2 cup increments until light and fluffy, adding more buttermilk if necessary.
• To assemble cake, trim tops of cake with a serrated knife so that they are perfectly even and flat. Place 1 cake layer on cake platter. Spread with half of ganache filling, not quite to the edges. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup almonds, and 1/3 cup toffee bits. Repeat with next layer. Top with final cake layer. Frost entire tops and outsides of cake with cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle tops of cake with remaining toffee and almonds, and garnish with chocolate curls. Serve immediately, or refrigerate up to 24 hours before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
• Stir flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl.
• Combine water, oil, butter, and cocoa powder in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Pour over the dry ingredients and stir just until smooth.
• Whisk buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla together in a small bowl. Add to the batter and stir to combine. Pour into the prepared cake pans.
• Bake in preheated oven for until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cake cool completely before icing with your favorite icing!

Steps:

• Make the cake:
• Line the bottom of 3 buttered 8-inch round (2-inch-deep) cake pans with wax paper, butter the paper, and dust the pans with flour, knocking out the excess. Into a bowl sift together the flour, the cocoa powder, the baking soda, the baking powder, and the salt. In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat together the sugar and the butter until the mixture is combined well, add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, and beat in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk in batches, beginning and ending with the flour mixture and beating well after each addition, divide the batter among the pans, smoothing the tops, and bake the layers in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. Let the layers cool in the pans on racks for 10 minutes. Run a thin knife around the edge of each pan, invert the layers onto the racks, and let them cool completely. The cake layers may be made 2 days in advance and kept chilled, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.
• Make the frosting:
• In a heavy saucepan whisk together the sugar, the cornstarch, a pinch of salt, and the chocolate and whisk in the boiling water. Bring the mixture to a boil over moderate heat, whisking constantly, and simmer it, whisking, for 2 minutes. Whisk in the liqueur, transfer the mixture to a metal bowl, and with an electric mixer beat in the butter, beating until the butter is incorporated. Set the bowl in a larger bowl of ice and cold water and beat the frosting until it is light and holds soft peaks.
• Assemble the cake:
• On a cake stand arrange 1 cake layer, spread the top with some of the frosting, and top the frosting with a second cake layer. Spread the second layer with some of the remaining frosting and top the frosting with the remaining layer. Spread the side and top of the cake with the remaining frosting. The cake may be assembled 4 hours in advance and kept at room temperature.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Butter a 10-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
• Cream together the butter and the sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, continue beating until thick and light.
• Sieve together the cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and flour.
• With your mixer on low speed add the dry ingredients in 4 portions, alternating with the buttermilk and coffee, beat until all is very well blended.
• Pour the batter in the springform pan and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.
• Run a knife around the edge of the cake and let the cake cool completely whilst in the pan.
• Make the frosting just before you need it.
• Mix together the sour cream and the icing sugar, whip the cream until stiff, then mix the two creams together.
• Release the cake and turn it upside down on a platter.
• With a serrated knife cut the cake into layers (I use a piece of sewing thread to cut the cake).
• Spread frosting over one layer, carefully replace the other layer on the top and spread the rest of the frosting over the top and the sides.
• Leave in the fridge until ready to serve.