This is my children's first pick for birthday cakes!
Author: Linda Marienhoff Coss
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Serves: 9-inch double-layer cake
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
½ cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups water
⅔ cup oil
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Chocolate Frosting
½ cup dairy-free butter alternative, room temperature
2½ tablespoons honey (can sub agave nectar for vegan)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup cocoa powder
2½ tablespoons water
2½ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
Chocolate Cake
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Add water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Whisk until the batter is smooth and the ingredients are well-blended.
Pour the batter into your prepared cake pans and even out.
Bake the cakes for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before carefully removing turning them out onto wire racks to cool completely.
Chocolate Frosting
While the cakes are cooling, make the frosting.
Place butter alternative, honey, and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Sift in the cocoa powder. Using a hand mixer on low speed, cream the ingredients together. Add the water and sift in the powdered sugar. Beat on low speed until combined, then beat on medium speed until creamy.
Cake Assembly
Once the cake layers are completely cool, place one layer in the center of a serving platter, upside down (so that the flat side of the cake, which was on the bottom of the cake pan, is facing you).
Using a frosting spatula, spread the top of the first layer with frosting. Place the second cake layer on top of this, right-side up. Spread frosting over the top and sides of the entire cake.