Moist Chocolate Birthday Cake

This is a moist chocolate birthday cake that is also good as cupcakes. Frost it with vanilla or chocolate buttercream, or any icing of your choice. For cupcakes, divide into 24 muffin cups and bake 20 to 25 minutes.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 50 mins
• Calories: 413 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¾ cup white sugar
• 1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1 cup hot coffee
• 1 ¼ cups packed dark brown sugar
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper. Grease the pans and dust with cocoa powder.

Step 2

Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.

Step 3

Beat butter, dark brown sugar, and white sugar together in a bowl using an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Beat on medium-high until fluffy.

Step 4

Pour melted chocolate and vanilla extract into the bowl with the sugar mixture; mix on low speed until combined. Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, mixing on low speed. Pour in coffee slowly in a steady stream; mix on low speed until smooth.

Step 5

Use an electric mixer to beat egg whites in a separate bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold gently into batter. Divide batter evenly between the 3 prepared cake pans.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes, making sure not to overbake. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes; turn out onto waxed paper to cool completely before frosting.