Sometimes you think you’ve found the most awesome chocolate cake out there, and then you stumble upon another that outshines any you’ve made before.  As much as I love several recipes I already have, I’d have to say, this is one of my favorites.  With so many chocolate cake recipes out there, how can one recipe be better than another?  I guess it’s like going to buy a new brand of shampoo, with so many to choose from, how do you really know what’s the best until you’ve tried them all! lol  Anyway, if you make this cake, I don’t think you will be disappointed. I know I wasn’t! 

Happy Cake Baking!

Ingredients:

3 cups packed brown sugar

1 cup butter (2 sticks) softened

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla (real)

2 and 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup cocoa 

1 Tablespoon baking soda

1//2 teaspoon salt

1 and 1/3 cups sour cream

1 and 1/3 cups boiling water  ** (I use hot black coffee for half of the water)

*** Marshmallow Frosting between layers (see recipe below)

*** Fudge Frosting on outside of cake  (see recipe below)

Directions:

1.  In a mixing bowl, cream brown sugar and butter.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat on high-speed until light and fluffy.  Blend in vanilla.

2. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt: add alternately with sour cream to creamed mixture.  Mix on low just until combined.  Stir in water (or one part hot water and one part half hot black coffee) until blended.

3. Pour into three greased and floured 9-inch round baking pans.  Bake at 350 F for 35 minutes.  Cool on pans 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.  Frost as desired. 

For the frosting in the middle I use Marshmallow Frosting:  See Below:

 Marshmallow Frosting

 

Ingredients:

4 large egg whites

1 cup granulated sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt (or a pinch)

1 teaspoon vanilla (real, not artificial)

Directions:

Place all ingredients except the vanilla essence into a bowl which you can place over a pot of simmering water or double boiler.

Whisk the egg white mixture constantly over simmering water until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is hot to the touch. {It takes around 5 minutes}.

Pour the mixture into a bigger bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 7-10 minutes. {Add the vanilla while beating}.  It will seem like mixture will not get thick, but it will.  This icing is so creamy and fluffy.

For Frosting on the outside of cake, I use my Fudge Frosting:  See Below:

Fudge Frosting:

Ingredients:

3/4 cup Cocoa
4 cups confectioner sugar
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1 teaspoon vanilla (real)
1/2 cup evaporated milk
pinch of salt

Mix Cocoa and sugar. Cream part of cocoa mixture with butter. Blend in vanilla and 1/2 of milk. Add remaining Cocoa and sugar mixture and blend well. Add remaining milk and beat to desired consistency.