Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake Cooks Illustrated Recipes

Steps:

• FOR THE PAN: Stir together butter and cocoa in small bowl until paste forms; using a pastry brush, coat all interior surfaces of standard 12-cup Bundt pan, see illustration below. (If mixture becomes too thick to brush on, microwave it for 10 to 20 seconds, or until warm and softened.) Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position; heat oven to 350°F.
• FOR THE CAKE: Combine cocoa, chocolate, and espresso powder (if using) in medium heatproof bowl; pour boiling water over and whisk until smooth. Cool to room temperature; then whisk in sour cream. Whisk flour, salt, and baking soda in second bowl to combine.
• In standing mixer fitted with flat beater, beat butter, sugar, and vanilla on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to medium and add eggs one at a time, mixing about 30 seconds after each addition and scraping down bowl with rubber spatula after first 2 additions. Reduce to medium-low speed (batter may appear separated); add about one third of flour mixture and half of chocolate/sour cream mixture and mix until just incorporated, about 20 seconds. Scrape bowl and repeat using half of remaining flour mixture and all of remaining chocolate mixture; add remaining flour mixture and beat until just incorporated, about 10 seconds. Scrape bowl and mix on medium-low until batter is thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds.
• Pour batter into prepared Bundt pan, being careful not to pour batter on sides of pan. Bake until wooden skewer inserted into center comes out with few crumbs attached, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then invert cake onto parchment-lined wire rack; cool to room temperature, about 3 hours. Dust with confectioners' sugar, transfer to serving platter, and cut into wedges.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325.
• All ingredients should be room temperature.
• Grease and flour 10 cup bundt pan.
• Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• Cream butter and sugar in electric mixer until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs and vanilla.
• On low speed, alternate in three additions the cocoa mixture and sour cream, ending with flour until just blended.
• Fold in chocolate.
• Pour batter into pan and spread batter to sides.
• Bake about 1 hour, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting.
• Combine all ingredients for glaze except liqueur and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved.
• Remove from heat and stir in liqueur.
• Glaze cake when cooled to room temperature, and dust with confectioner's sugar before serving.