Best Chocolate Cake Ever!

I celebrated my birthday earlier this month, and it unfortunately fell at the same time as a big snowstorm.  My husband was working, the driveway had to get cleared out, my son was being a grouch.  Even though I've been focusing on eating healthier, I was not skipping birthday cake, I deserved it! I searched the Taste of Home site, and this cake made with ricotta cheese caught my eye.  The sour cream frosting made it even more interesting.

I started mixing ingredients and my son came down and distracted me.  After I'd poured the batter into the prepared pans, I realized that I'd forgotten to add the oil.  I quickly pulled them out of the oven, dumped everything back into the bowl, added the oil and put it back into the pans.  Back into the oven, crossed my fingers and waited.  The cakes turned out perfectly, though one layer was a little larger than the other.  I left them to cool, and then headed out to snow blow.

When I came back in, I went to get the ingredients for the frosting.  How could I possibly not have milk chocolate on hand?  I have 9 kinds of baking chips, candy bars with all kinds of things in them, truffles galore, bakers chocolate, and cocoa powder.   I looked up a substitution, and ended up using the cocoa powder, butter and powdered sugar.  To my surprise, it worked, but I would definitely recommend following the recipe for the best consistency.

This cake is SO good.  Rich, moist (the only time ever this word should be used!), chocolatey.  The tang that the sour cream gives the frosting is awesome.  A grated dark chocolate truffle over the top was the perfect finishing touch.   I'd have never thought to use ricotta in a cake, and now I'm sorry it took me so long to find it!  I'll definitely give this one my vote as Best Chocolate Cake Ever, but I probably should try all the other amazing recipes being shared from the #FestiveFoodies today to make sure ;) Thanks so much to Camilla for hosting!

Best Chocolate Cake Ever

ingredients:

• 8oz Galbani Ricotta
• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 12oz milk chocolate
• 1 cup sour cream, room temp

instructions:

Cake Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom and sides of two 9- round by 2-inch deep cake pans.
2. Sift dry ingredients together in a bowl and set aside. In a mixing bowl, mix sugar, oil, ricotta and vanilla on medium speed for 2 minutes.
3. Add eggs. Beat until incorporated. On low speed, beat in flour mixture alternately with water.
4. Continue mixing for 2 minutes until smooth. Divide equally into pans and bake for 35-45 minutes until cake tests done.
5. Cool in pans for 10 minutes and then turn onto plates. Frost when cakes are cool.

Frosting Directions:

1. Melt chocolate over simmering water, stir until smooth, let cool to room temperature.
2. Mix sour cream into chocolate with a wire whisk.
3. Frost the first layer, top with second layer, then frost the top and sides.
4. Garnish with chocolate shavings, raspberries, and whipped cream as desired.

Yield: 12 servings

Source: http://galbanicheese.com/best-chocolate-cake-ever/

chocolate cake, frosting

Cake, Desserts

American

Created using The Recipes Generator

Jolene's Recipe Journal: Best Chocolate Cake Ever!
A Day in the Life on the Farm: Chocolate Mug Cake
Amy's Cooking Adventures: Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes
The Redhead Baker: Fudgy Chocolate Bundt Cake
Cindy's Recipes and Writings: Chocolate Mocha Cream Cake
Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks: Chocolate Hazelnut Cake
Culinary Adventures with Camilla: Double Chocolate Cake with Whiskey Ganache
Palatable Pastime: Flourless Chocolate Cake
Cooking With Carlee: Chocolate Banana Cupcakes
Soulfully Made: Chocolate Cake with Whipped Oreo Icing