Andy’s birthday was at the end of September. I wanted to make him a cake but didn’t want a regular sized cake because we had no use for it. I halved this recipe and made one 8 inch round cake.
Cocoa-Buttermilk Birthday Cake
From Dorie Greenspan’s Baking from my Home to Yours
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 stick unsalted butter (at room temp.)
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate (melted and cooled)
Preheat oven to 350. Butter one 8 x 2 inch round cake pan, dust with flour and tap out excess. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit in the bottom of the pan.
Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Working with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until soft and creamy. Add sugar and beat for about 2 minutes until it is thoroughly blended into the butter. Add the egg then egg yolk one at a time, beating for one minute in between. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk. Add the dry ingredients in 3 portions and buttermilk in 2 (begin and end with the dry ingredients). Mix only until each new batch is blended. Add the melted (and cooled) chocolate, folding in with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the pan. Place in oven on centered rack and bake for about 20-25 minutes. Cool for about 5 minutes in the pan then invert, peel off parchment and return to right side up to let cool completely.
Buttercream Frosting
1/4 cup unsalted butter at room temp.
1/4 cup crisco
2 1/2 cups confectionary sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2-3 tbsp milk
This is pretty much my favorite buttercream frosting. I think the crisco helps to stabilize the icing so it’s easy to pipe.
I used a 3 inch biscuit cutter to cut out 2 circles from my cake and used them to make a miniature 2 tier cake. The cake turned out really well. I’m not a big fan of chocolate cake but I actually really liked this. Note: You could technically cut 4 circles out of a 9 inch pan and make two minis if you have enough frosting (which I did not).
gnome…!
