15 recipes for National Chocolate Cake Day (Jan. 27)

Here are 15 decadent recipes to find a chocolate cake that's just right for you.

3. Old fashioned chocolate buttermilk cake

The Runaway Spoon
Sometimes you simply need chocolate. This simple chocolate cake is sure to hit the spot.

By Perre Coleman Magness, The Runaway Spoon

Serves 12

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup (half a stick) of butter
4 tablespoons buttermilk
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2-1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

For the cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 inch glass baking dish.

2. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together in the bowl of a stand mixer. Place the butter, water, and cocoa powder in a pan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. With the mixer running, pour the hot chocolate mixture into the dry ingredients and beat until smooth. Add the buttermilk, then the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.

3. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

For the frosting

1. As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, bring the butter, cocoa, and buttermilk to a boil in a pan (you can use the same one used earlier). Remove the pan from the heat and beat in the powdered sugar until smooth.

2. Pour the warm frosting over the still warm cake, tilting the pan to cover the cake evenly, and leave to cool.

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