# Death by Chocolate Cake

This recipe shows how to make a decadent three-layer chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting.

- Servings: 8 servings
- Total time: 26 min
- Cuisine: American
- Category: Baked Goods
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 0.5 cup water
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon dark cocoa powder
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 0.75 cup dark cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1.5 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 cup sour cream
- 0.5 cup vegetable oil
- 2 units large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon instant espresso
- 2 cups unsalted butter
- 1 cup dark baking cocoa
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 0.75 cup heavy cream
- 1.33 cups melted and cooled dark chocolate

## Instructions

1. Make the chocolate simple syrup by heating together ½ cup of water and ½ cup of granulated sugar until the sugar is fully dissolved, then mix in 1 tablespoon of dark cocoa powder.
2. Whisk together the dry ingredients: 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 cups of granulated sugar, ¾ cup of dark cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1 ½ teaspoons of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of fine salt.
3. Combine the wet ingredients: 1 cup of warm water, 1 cup of sour cream, ½ cup of vegetable oil, 2 large eggs, 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon of instant espresso.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk together until smooth.
5. Pour the batter into lined and greased 8-inch cake pans (3 layers) and bake at 350°F for 22-26 minutes.
6. While the cakes are baking, prepare the chocolate frosting by mixing together 2 cups of unsalted butter, 1 cup of dark baking cocoa, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and ½ teaspoon of salt.
7. Mix in 5 cups of powdered sugar and ¾ cup of heavy cream.
8. Mix in 1 ⅓ cups of melted and cooled dark chocolate.
9. Brush cake layers with chocolate simple syrup and spread an even layer of chocolate frosting between each layer.
10. Add one thick layer of chocolate buttercream frosting to the top of the cake.
11. Decorate the edges of the cake with extra cake crumbs (optional).

## Equipment

- saucepan
- whisk
- cake pans
- hand mixer

## Source

- Original video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCdpBVzRE7r/?igsh=MWdjYWR0d2FoNjlqMw==
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/be69ca8b-5b46-4b39-83b5-3be9ad3f1796
- Extracted: 2025-03-17

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt