Grandma’s Killer Chocolate Cake
A rich, moist chocolate cake from a 1940s family recipe, made with bitter chocolate and a glossy boiled frosting. Perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup butter
- 2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 cup flour
- 1 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 1 1/3 tsp baking soda dissolved in 2/5 cup hot water
- 3.5 bitter chocolate melted gently
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3 bitter chocolate
- 2 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
Nutrition (per serving, estimated)
Estimated based off 11 of 14 identified ingredients (per 100 g food data, scaled by amount).
Vitamins & minerals
- Calcium: 63.7 mg
- Iron: 1.17 mg
- Magnesium: 10.8 mg
- Phosphorus: 82.6 mg
- Potassium: 104 mg
- Zinc: 0.47 mg
Let's Prepare
Collect
Gather these ingredients — no prep needed yet.
- 2/3 cup butter
- 2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 cup flour
- 1 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3 bitter chocolate
- 2 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
Prepare
- 1 1/3 tsp baking soda, dissolved in 2/5 cup hot water
- 3.5 bitter chocolate, melted gently
Let's Cook
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Step 1.
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, cream together ⅔ cup butter and 2 cups granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add 2 eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
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Step 2.
Gradually add 2 cups flour and 1⅓ cups buttermilk in alternating additions, starting and ending with flour, mixing just until combined. In a small bowl, dissolve 1⅓ teaspoons baking soda in ⅖ cup hot water, then stir into batter. Add 3½ squares melted bitter chocolate and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
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Step 3.
Pour batter into a greased 9-by-12-inch pan or two greased 9-inch round springform pans. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
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Step 4.
While the cake cools, combine all frosting ingredients (½ cup butter, 3 squares bitter chocolate, 2 cups granulated sugar, ¾ cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon almond extract) in a saucepan. Bring to a full boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, then boil for exactly 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool until thickened; you can place the saucepan on ice to speed cooling.
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Step 5.
Once the cake is completely cool, remove it from the pan. Spread the cooled frosting evenly over the top and sides. Slice and serve.
