For those of you who don’t know who Patyence is, she Brandon’s step-mom, who is also the “Queen of Confection” in our family.  She made this cake last Saturday for our Delicioso viewing party.  Let me just say that this was the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had, hands down. It made watching my mug on the TV a little more bearable!! lol.  So without further ado, I present to you the recipe for this fabulous cake.  Thanks so much Pae for making this, everyone really enjoyed it!

Ingredients for the cake:

3 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

2 2/3 cup sugar

1 cup + 1 tbsp cocoa (I used Vahlrona because of higher quality)

1 cup + 1 tbsp water (room temp)

1 cup + 1 tbsp canola oil

5 large eggs

3/4 cup water (room temp)

1 tsp vanilla

bar of white chocolate (for garnish-optional)

bar of bittersweet chocolate (for garnish-optional)

Frosting #1

1 pound powdered sugar

3/4 cup cocoa

2-3 tbsp grand Marnier (you can use any flavored liqueur)

1 1/2 cup butter (room temp.)

Frosting #2

1 pound powder sugar

1 8-oz cream cheese

2 sticks butter (room temp)

1 to 2 tsp. vanilla

Frosting #3

combine leftover frosting #1 with #2

Cake:

Preheat oven to 350.

In large bowl, sift flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and cocoa. Add 1 cup and 1 tbsp water and oil. Mix until combined (about 1 minute).

Add eggs, 3/4 cup water and vanilla. Mix until it all comes together (about 2 to 3 mins. by mixer).

Pour into 11×14 rectangular pan and bake for 25-35 mins. This produces quite a bit of batter.

Cool cake on rack and cut in half to begin frosting cake.

Frosting #1:

Place butter in bowl and begin to whip. Sift cocoa powder and powder sugar together and begin to add to bowl (about half of the mixture). Add the flavoring and place the remaining sugar/cocoa ingredients in bowl. Let frosting mix on medium speed until right spreading consistency. You can add more flavoring if you like if the mixture is still too stiff. The key is to mix the frosting on slow to medium speed for a long period of time (about 6 to 8 mins).

Frosting #2:

Place all contents in bowl and beat on medium speed until you get a spreadable consistency. You can add more liquid if it is too dry. If the mixture is too sweet, you can add another 1/2 stick of butter.

Assembly:

After your cake is split in two, you place the cream cheese frosting first (save some for later) and then add the chocolate frosting on top creating 2 beautiful layers (save some of the chocolate frosting as well). Place top layer of cake and frost the entire cake. Use Frosting #3 to decorate cake (and to have leftovers for those wanting extra frosting) and garnish cake with white chocolate curls and chocolate shavings.

Enjoy!!