Mocha Cake

For my mom's and dad's birthdays, I decided that I would make them both a combined cake. Since my mom generally doesn't like homemade goods (weird, no?!), I tried to go for something simple: a mocha cake. To my great surprise, she really liked the cake. Or so she said. Either way, I really like this cake recipe, from 100 vedettes, 100 recettes - Centraide, because of its deliciousness combined with simplicity.

Ingredients for cake:

3/4 cup unsalted butter, RT

1 2/3 cups sugar

4 eggs

4 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted*

2 1/3 cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

walnuts, chopped (optional)

Ingredients for frosting:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, RT

5 cups icing sugar

4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

6 tablespoons prepared coffee

pinch of salt

* To melt the chocolate, it is easy to do so by chopping coarsely and heating in the microwave for 30-second intervals, mixing the chocolate between each. A double-boiler could also be used.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two round 9-inch pans.

2. Cream together the butter and sugar until mixture is light and fluffy.

3. Add the eggs, ensuring to mix well after each addition.

4. Pour the melted chocolate in the butter mixture and blend well until a homogenous mixture is obtained.

5. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the chocolate butter mixture, alternating with the addition of milk.

6. Add the vanilla extract.

7. Divide the cake mixture equally in the two round pans and bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

8. For the frosting, cream the butter, and add the icing sugar and cocoa powder. Mix well. Incorporate the liquid coffee and salt.

9. When the two layers of the cake have cooled down, spread a layer of icing on top of the bottom layer, and carefully place the other layer of cake on top of the frosting. Proceed to spreading frosting on the top of the cake as well as on the sides. Garnish with walnuts if desired.