Best Chocolate Cake

This cake was definitely an adventure not so much the making of it but putting it together.  I made this cake this weekend for my Mom's birthday.  Imagine me making icing and 5 hungry hyenas standing around me....

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I had my cakes made and the ingredients for the icing packed.  We were on our way to my parents where I would put the icing together and make the cake.  We arrived and I was on my way.  My almost 3 year old nephew helped me put the ingredients together and mix it all up.  Then one by one they came 3 adults and 2 kids drooling in the kitchen waiting for the icing to be unattended.  l was not that stupid.  I handed out beaters to lick and cake pans with the remaining crumbs to hold them at bay.  Then came the mistake I turned my back for a second and I heard the "oh no!" and knew what happened......

Here is the crime scene (if you can't tell there is a fingerprint about the size of an almost three year old's finger)

Here is the evidence 

And here is the culprit 

He's too darn cute I couldn't be mad

So after that fiasco was finished I iced the rest of the cake we ate dinner and then we had cake!
Here are some of the reviews:
"That was delicious"  Mom
"This cake is good" Almost 3 year old nephew
"Nom nom nom" My Sweet Ryan

Happy Treats!

Cake:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cups good cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup buttermilk, shaken
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare you cake pans. I used 8in rounds, you can use rectangle pans or cupcakes or whatever floats your boat!

Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the
bowl and mix until combined.

In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla.

With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.

Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.
 Recipe from I am Baker

Icing: 

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened and cut into small pieces 
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and cut into small pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

5 cups confectioner’s sugar

1. Combine all ingredients except the sugar into a large bowl and mix on medium speed until smooth, about 3 to 4 minutes.

2. Reduce the mixer speed to medium low and add the confectioner’s sugar
one cup at a time. Scrape down the sides of the bowl often. Once all
sugar is added, beat until fluffy, 3 to 6 minutes.

Recipe from I am Baker

I am linked up with Today's Creative Blog, The Crazy Cooking Challenge, Lady Behind the Curtain, Tidy Mom, The Girl Creative, Toys in the Dryer, kitchen Fun with my 3 Sons

Be sure to go to the Crazy Cooking Challenge and click on cake #82 Best Chocolate Cake!  That is how you vote for my cake!