Devil’s Food Cake and Cocoa Fudge Icing

Apron’s optional for this cake, but it’s old school and delicious. It’s the kind you take to work to celebrate a birthday, or make for a party at a neighbor’s house. It will not only impress, it will be gone quickly.  Don’t let the amount of ingredients intimidate you, it’s an easy recipe and worth making homemade.*

Devil’s food cake

3 cups cake flour

3 T cocoa powder

1 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup melted shortening

2 1/4 cups sugar

1 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

6 oz milk (3/4 cup)

5 eggs lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 345 degrees

grease and line two 9 inch cake pans

Combine flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder/soda and shortening and beat in mixer for three minutes on low speed

Add half the milk and vanilla, mix on low for 5 minutes, stopping each minute to scrape down the sides

Add milk and eggs, mixing well for another 5 minutes on low

Pour into cake pans and cook for 25-30 minutes, or until cake tester comes out clean.

Let cool to room temp before frosting

 

Cocoa fudge frosting 

4 cups sifted powdered sugar

1/2 cup sifted cocoa powder

1/8 tsp salt

2-3 T corn syrup

2 T melted butter

1/4 cup melted shortening

1/2 cup plus 1 T hot water (140 degrees)

1 tsp vanilla

Blend sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and corn syrup, beat until smooth (add more corn syrup if necessary)

Add melted shortening, melted butter, hot water and vanilla until mixed well and fluffy.  Increase mixing speed if necessary, add more water if too thick, more powdered sugar if too runny

Frost cake and enjoy

Notes-add a layer of whipped cream between cakes for added flavor (homemade just add a pint of heavy cream, a cup of powdered sugar and 2 tsp of vanilla extract, whipped until medium peak)

*if you don’t have time to make a homemade cake, use a cake mix! There is no shame in that game. Just make your own frosting, your guests/friends/family will thank you

I added crushed peppermint to the top for holiday flair.  Can add coconut, sprinkles, fruit, whatever sounds good.

And with the leftover cake, I made little trifles.  Because I am cool like that