Beatty's Chocolate Cake by Ina Garten

I am a huge fan of the Barefoot Contessa otherwise known as Ina Garten and in fact bake from her books a lot.  I have scrolled through the pages often and have seen a fabulous chocolate cake with shiny chocolate that looks delectable but for whatever reason have never made it, until today! And I am so happy that I did because this cake is light, moist, sweet, and has a rich chocolate flavor.

Beatty's Chocolate Cake

13/4 cups flour

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup cocoa powder

2teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup butter milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare two 8 inch round baking pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper, then spray with baking spray or butter and flour.

Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, powder and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until combined.

In a separate bowl add eggs, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla, mix to combine. With the mixer on low speed slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With the mixer still on low, add the coffee until just combined, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a spatula.

Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, the. Turn out onto wore rack, remove parchment and cool completely.

Chocolate Frosting

6 ounces semisweet chocolate, Not chocolate chips

2 sticks of unsalted  butter, softened

1 large egg yolk at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

11/4 sifted powdered sugar

1 tablespoon instant coffee dissolved in 2 teaspoons hot water

Chop the chocolate and place in a bowl over simmering water. Stir until just melted the set aside to cool to rom temperature.

In bowl of electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment beat the butter until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eg yolk and the vanilla and beat an additional 3 minutes. Turntable he mixer on low and add the powdered sugar then beat at medium speed until smooth and creamy. Turn mixer to low speed and add the coffee and the melted chocolate, mix until just blended. Don't whip. Spared the frosting on the cooled cake.

Note: The egg yolk makes the frosting shiny, you can omit it and just whip the frosting a bit more. Also, I used 2 9" square pans although the recipe calls for round. I cut one in half and made this cake.

I hope that you try this fabulous cake! Have a great day.

Linking to:
Rooted in Thyme
Coastal Charm
Inspiration Monday
Savvy Souther Style
Katherine's Corner-Thursday
Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Double Chocolate Bourbon Brownies with Hershey's Chocolate Frosting

Good morning! Are you ready for a decadent, moist, fudgy brownie that might possibly be the "best" brownie that you have ever eaten? As I have mentioned numerous times I am a huge brownie fan, but only fudge brownies, not cake like; add a little or a lot of frosting and I could enjoy a whole pan, not in one sitting of course, but maybe in a day.

While perusing the Internet for Kentucky Derby party ideas for my other blog, Pine Cones and Acorns I came across this recipe from Broma Bakery and I knew it would be perfect for the weekend.  After all, the Kentucky Derby is all about the bourbon and the horses. The only thing I changed was the frosting, I made my favorite frosting from Hershey's instead. 

Double Chocolate Bourbon Brownies

Recipe from Broma Bakery

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter

4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

3 tablespoons Bourbon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup of flour

1/4 cup of cocoa powder

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Line 8x8" baking pan with parchment and spray with cooking spray. Melt butter and chocolate in a bowl, you can do this in the microwave, 30 second intervals until melted.

Add sugar to chocolate mixture, stir well. Then add the bourbon, eggs and salt. Fold in the flour and cocoa powder. Mix until smooth and shiny but do not be overzealous. Pour into pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. DO NOT OVER BAKE.

Cool completely, then frost with your favorite frosting or a quarter recipe of Hershey's Chocolate Frosting or to make the Bourbon Frosting that the original recipe called for click here.

I hope that you enjoy these brownies and your weekend!