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DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE/70%, COCOA POWDER

Thanks go to David Lebovitz, author of Room For Dessert (Harper Collins) for this recipe.

For the Cake:

  • 9 tablespoons SCHARFFEN BERGER Natural Cocoa Powder
  • 1 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup strong coffee
  • 1/2 cup milk

For the Frosting:

  • 9.7 ounces (1 bar) SCHARFFEN BERGER Chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter

Cake

1. Adjust the oven rack to the center of the oven and preheat to 350 F.

2. Butter two 9" X 2" cake pans and line the bottoms with circles of parchment paper.

3. Sift together the cocoa, flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder into one bowl.

4. Beat the butter and sugar together for about 5 minutes until smooth and creamy into a second large bowl then add the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated. (If using a standing electric mixer, stop the mixer as necessary to scrape down the sides to be sure everything is getting mixed in.)

5. Mix the coffee and milk together in a third bowl.

6. Stir half of the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, then add the coffee/milk mixture. Finish by stirring in the other half of the dry ingredients.

7. Divide the batter into the two prepared cake pans and bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

Frosting

1. Melt the solid chocolate with the water in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally until melted. Remove the bowl from the pan of water.

2. Cut the butter into small pieces and whisk them into the melted chocolate until completely melted and smooth. Cool until spreadable, about 1 hour at room temperature (or quicker in the refrigerator, stirring frequently until spreadable).

Serve the frosted cake with sweetened whipped cream or vanilla or caramel ice cream.