An easy, beautifully moist chocolate cake with a rich crumb and silky smooth chocolate buttercream. The perfect birthday cake, in my humble opinion.
Ingredients
For the cake
225g plain flour
200g golden caster sugar
100g soft brown sugar
85g cocoa powder
1½ tsp baking powder
1½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 free-range eggs
250ml whole milk
125ml vegetable oil, plus extra for greasing
2 tsp vanilla extract
250ml boiling water
For the buttercream
225g unsalted butter, room temperature
400g icing sugar, sifted
45g cocoa powder, sifted
3 tbsp milk (or single cream)
2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
For the cake
Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan. Grease and line two 20cm sandwich tins.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients except the boiling water and whisk until smooth and well combined. Add the boiling water, a little at a time, until smooth (your cake mixture will now be very liquid)
Divide the batter between the sandwich tins and bake in the oven for 30–35 minutes, or until the top is firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool completely, still in their tins, before icing.
For the buttercream
Using a stand mixer or electric whisk, beat the butter until smooth and light, 2 - 3 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and beat on low until just combined, then beat at high speed for 3 full minutes. Add a little more milk if the buttercream looks too thick. Can be kept in the fridge for several days.
When ready to assemble, place one cake on a serving plate. Slather over one third of the buttercream, sandwich the second cake on top then cover your cake with the remaining icing. Serve in thick slices.
This cake will keep in an airtight container for 2 - 3 days.