The Best Chocolate Layer Cake

I know it's annoying when people start a recipe name with "the best...", but I don't care, this really is the best chocolate layer cake recipe. Even Ina says so. This recipe comes from Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa at Home cookbook. It's super rich and has a cup of coffee in the batter, which complements the chocolate perfectly. I made this today for one of my best girlfriend's birthdays and it was a big hit all around.

The cake stays very moist, the buttercream is super rich, and the best part of all - the batter is the easiest to make and is almost all done in one bowl.

INGREDIENTS

CAKE

1. 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2. 2 cups sugar
3. 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4. 2 teaspoons baking soda
5. 1 teaspoon baking powder
6. 1 teaspoon kosher salt
7. 1 cup buttermilk
8. 1/2 cup vegetable oil
9. 2 large eggs
10. 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
11. 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee

FROSTING

1. 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
2. 2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3. 1 large egg yolk
4. 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
5. 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar, sifted
6. 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules

DIRECTIONS

1. MAKE THE CAKE: Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans and line them with parchment paper; butter the paper. Dust the pans with flour, tapping out any excess.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, mix the flour with the sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt at low speed. In a medium bowl, whisk the buttermilk with the oil, eggs and vanilla. Slowly beat the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients until just incorporated, then slowly beat in the hot coffee until fully incorporated.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then invert the cakes onto a rack to cool completely. Peel off the parchment paper.
4. MAKE THE FROSTING: In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the chocolate at high power in 30-second intervals, stirring, until most of the chocolate is melted. Stir until completely melted, then set aside to cool to room temperature.
5. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the butter at medium speed until pale and fluffy. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and beat for 1 minute, scraping down the side of the bowl. At low speed, slowly beat in the confectioners’ sugar, about 1 minute. In a small bowl, dissolve the instant coffee in 2 teaspoons of hot water. Slowly beat the coffee and the cooled chocolate into the butter mixture until just combined.
6. Set a cake layer on a plate with the flat side facing up. Evenly spread one-third of the frosting over the cake to the edge. Top with the second cake layer, rounded side up. Spread the remaining frosting over the top and side of the cake. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before slicing.

MAKE AHEAD

The frosted cake can be refrigerated for 2 days. Let stand for 1 hour before serving.