Such a rich and smooth chocolate cake, covered with a creamy ganache frosting, will thrill chocolate lovers everywhere. This decadent cake is served in many Oregon restaurants.

Chocolate Buttermilk Cake

ngredients:

Small amount of vegetable shortening and flour for preparing pans

Batter:

3 cups all-purpose flour

2½ cups granulated sugar

4½ teaspoons baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/3 cups vegetable or canola oil

1½ cups buttermilk

3 large eggs

1½ cups freshly brewed, extra-strong hot coffee

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Ganache:

12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces

1½ cups whipping (heavy) cream

Tip: Use standard measuring cups and spoons or scales for accurate measuring.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare two 9-inch round layer cake pans; lightly grease the pans with shortening and dust with flour. Tip: to make baked cake easier to remove from pan, lightly grease the pan, line the bottom with parchment paper, and then lightly grease the top of the parchment paper and dust the pan with flour.
   
   Batter:
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder; sift or whisk together to mix.  Using an electric mixer on low speed, add oil, buttermilk and eggs; mix well. Add hot coffee in a thin stream, pouring down the side of the bowl. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula so the mixture blends evenly.  Add vanilla and mix until batter is smooth.
   
   Bake:
3. Spoon the batter into the prepared pans and smooth the surface with the back of a large spoon. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a long toothpick, wooden skewer, or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and place pans on a wire cooling rack to cool for 10 to 15 minutes then remove cake from the pans and place the cake on the wire cooling rack to finish cooling.
   
   Ganache:
4. In top of a double boiler, combine chocolate and cream. Place pan over simmering water (the upper pan should not touch the water.) Heat and stir the chocolate and cream together until the chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat; cool to room temperature and ganache becomes thick enough to easily spread. Tip: Place bowl in a larger bowl of ice water to speed cooling and thickening, stirring Ganache as it cools.

   Tip: Create a double boiler by filling a saucepan with 2 inches of water and heat to simmering. Place a stainless steel, ceramic, or glass bowl on top of the simmering water, the upper pan should not touch the water.
   

5. Using an offset spatula, spread ganache between layers and over top and sides of cake.
   
   Tip: Serve cake using a pretty cake plate and cake server for a delightful presentation.
   
   TheBakingPan.com
   
   Adapted from Portland Monthly February, 2008
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