2 c sugar
1 3/4 c flour
3/4 c cocoa powder
1 1/2 t baking powder
1 1/2 t baking soda
1 t salt
2 eggs
1 c milk
1/2 c vegetable oil
2 t vanilla
1 c boiling water
Grease 3 – 8 inch round cake pans. Line pans with parchment paper, grease each pan again and flour; set aside. In a bowl, combine sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla, mix well. Stir in water (batter will be very thin.)
Evenly divide batter in pans. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 30 – 35 minutes, until toothpick inserted in the center of each layer comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, remove and place on a wire rack to cool completely. Wrap each layer in plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for several hours or overnight. Prepare cream cheese filling–
1 c cream cheese
3/4 c butter
1/2 T vanilla
6 c powdered sugar, more or less, to desired spreading consistency
In a bowl with mixer on medium, beat cream cheese and butter for 1 minute, add vanilla, beat for 1 minute. Reduce speed to low, add powdered sugar 1/2 c at a time. Once the sugar is completely incorporated, beat at medium speed until fluffy. Prepare chocolate butter cream frosting —
1 c butter
1 3/4 c cocoa powder
4 – 6 c powdered sugar, more or less, to desired spreading consistency
1/2 c plus 3 T milk
2 t vanilla
In a bowl, combine powdered sugar and cocoa. Beat butter on medium speed for 1 minute. Reduce speed to low, add 3 c sugar cocoa mixture 1/2 c at a time, add milk and vanilla, add remaining sugar cocoa mixture, beat at medium speed until fluffy.
To assemble cake –remove cake from refrigerator. If needed, level each layer.
Place one layer on a cake plate. Evenly spread about 3/4 c cream cheese filling over the cake, leaving about 1/2 inch margin around edges. Top with second layer and repeat. Top with the third layer. Apply a thin layer of chocolate butter cream over the top and sides of the cake. This is a seal coat, doesn’t need to be perfect. Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Remove cake from refrigerator and spread a final layer of chocolate butter cream. If desired garnish top edges of cake with white cream cheese frosting or garnish top of cake with chocolate curls, mini chocolate chips, etc.
