Difficutly: moderate
Time: 45 Min
Portion: 12 servings
Ingredients:
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, do not exceed 61% cacao, chopped
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 3/4 cups boiling water
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/3 cups mayonnaise, do not use reduced fat or fat free
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
FROSTING:
10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, do not exceed 61% cacao, chopped
3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Special equipment: Three 8-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2 inch sides.
2. CAKE: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour three 8-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2 inch high sides. Combine chopped chocolate and cocoa powder in medium metal bowl. Add 1 3/4 cups boiling water and whisk until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
3. Sift flour, baking soda, and baking powder into another medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat both sugars and mayonnaise in large bowl until well blended, 2 to 3 minutes. Add egss 1 at a time, beating until well blended after wach addition. Beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture in 4 additions alternately with chocolate mixture in 3 additions, beating until blended after each addition and occasionally scraping down sides of bowl. Divide batter among prepared cake pans (about 2 1/2 cups for each).
4. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean. 30 to 32 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 20 minutes. Run small knife around sides of cakes to loosen. Carefully invert cakes onto racks and let cool completely.
5. FROSTING: Place chopped chocolate in medium metal bowl; set bowl over saucepan of simmering water and stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Carefully remove bowl from over water; let melted chocolate cool until lukewarm, stirring occasionally.
6. using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until smooth and creamy. Sift powdered sugar over butter and beat until well blended., about 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Add melted chocolate and beat until well blended and smooth, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl.
7. Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread 3/4 cup frosting over top of cake layer to edges. Top with second cake later; spread 3/4 cup frosting over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining frosting decoratively over top and side of cake.
8. DO AHEAD: Can be make 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and let stand at room temperature.