Dark Chocolate Cake--Whip Up Something New

I know I already posted today, but I have to do another (which should have really been posted yesterday). As host for the month of Whip Up Something New, I didn't even post my own recipe. I did make a delicious cake earlier in the month, but never got around to posting it. Even though I'm a day late, I'll post it any way. I'm the host, I can do that, right? I hope so.

I needed cupcakes for a birthday party. I didn't have a cake mix so I decided to try a cake from scratch. I found this Dark Chocolate Cake recipe on allrecipes.com.

• Dark Chocolate Cake I

• 2 cups boiling water
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 1/4 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 3 - 9 inch round cake pans. In medium bowl, pour boiling water over cocoa, and whisk until smooth. Let mixture cool. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at time, then stir in vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the cocoa mixture. Spread batter evenly between the 3 prepared pans.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Allow to cool.

It was delicious! The kids that I'd made it for devoured them. I had extras and sent them to work with my husband and received many compliments. One co-worker asked where my husband had bought them because he liked them so much. He told him that I'd make them from scratch and it was my first try. His co-worker said that if that was my first try, he'd love to try the second. I didn't do anything special. They're just that good. It was really light, but had a great flavor. I didn't have beaters and did it by hand, and it still turned out great. If you need a good chocolate cake, this is a good one to go for.

I made the frosting from scratch as well with the recipe listed below also from allrecipes.com. In the photo, you'll see vanilla cupcakes as well. Those didn't turn out as well, so I won't share that recipe. I think it was my fault because I was in a hurry and didn't beat it as long as I should have. They were a little dense.

Vanilla - Chocolate Powdered Sugar Frosting

Ingredients

• 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 tablespoons milk
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder (optional)

Directions

1. Cream sugar, butter and vanilla. Add a small amount of milk (1 to 2 tablespoons). Add cocoa if desired and beat until fluffy. If frosting is too sweet add a little more milk.