Chocolate Layer Cake

I tried out this recipe from Canadian Living's test kitchen, and it turned out super moist (without being too dense or heavy).

Ingredients

Chocolate Layer Cake

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 salt
• 1 1/4 cup brewed coffee
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

+ Icing of choice (I used vanilla buttercream icing for this recipe!). 

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).
2. Preparation of dry ingredients: whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. 
3. Add wet ingredients: Mix in coffee, oil, and vanilla. Mix in vinegar afterwards. 
4. Put batter into greased cake pans (or cupcake liners)
5. Bake for 25 minutes or until cake tester comes clean. 

STEP BY STEP ILLUSTRATED INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease your cake pans:

2. Measure and add flour:

Add sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt:

Whisk together your ingredients:

3. Brew together instant coffee, I used instant coffee (the easiest!) which simply requires you to boil some water and add 1 tbsp of coffee powder without the need for filters. 

4. Add oil and vanilla. 

5. Mix in the apple cider vinegar. 

Mix your ingredientso tgether:

If Baking Cupcakes: 

Scroll down to see how to bake the cake

6. a) If Baking Cupcakes, pour into cupcake liners and bake for 18 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.

If Baking Cake: 

6. b) Pour into 9 inch cake pans (or cupcake liners)

Depicted around the cake pans are bake even strips which help cake layers bake completely flat - great for layering and icing! You can view my review and instructions on how to use cake strips. 

7. Bake for 25 minutes or until cake tester comes clean.

Chocolate Buttercream Ruffle Cake

I used this chocolate cake recipe for my buttercream ruffle birthday cake! You can see a tutorial on how I ice this here.