BUTTERMILK CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, grease and flour three 8x2 inch round pans 
• In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and baking soda.  Set aside
• In another bowl, add the buttermilk, oil and vanilla.  Set aside
• In the bowl of your mixer, add the softened butter and mix at medium speed until smooth. Gradually add the sugar and continue to mix on medium speed 3 to 5 minutes until lightened in color and fluffy.  
• Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until the yellow of the yolk disappears.
• Alternately, add the flour mixture and buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients (3 additions of dry and 2 of wet).
• Do not mix above medium speed or over mix the batter.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached.  Let cool 5 to 10 minutes and turn out of pan.
• Chill the mixing bowl and beaters/ whisk attachment in the freezer for 10 minutes.
• Pour the whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla into the chilled mixing bowl, begin beating on low speed gradually increasing to medium high speed.  
• The cream begins to thicken (approx. 1 1/2 minutes) and soft peaks form....peaks that slightly bend over.  Watch closely as this happens quickly.  Do not over beat.
• Use immediately as the whipped cream will gradually begin to deflate over time.
• Add butter and beat for approximately 1 min. on medium speed. Add vanilla and blend into the butter. Add powdered sugar and cocoa powder.
• Add most of the milk. Begin beating at low speed so you won't have a cloud of powdered sugar in your kitchen. Beat at medium speed 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and beat an additional two to three minutes, adding remaining milk as needed.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the cake: Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch cake pan with butter. Combine the flour, sugar and baking soda in the bowl of a stand mixer or mixing bowl. Combine the butter, cocoa and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil while mixing. Add the cocoa mixture to the flour mixture, along with the buttermilk eggs and vanilla, and beat for 3 minutes. Pour into the prepared cake pan and bake until firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes in the pan before turning out on a rack to cool completely.
• For the frosting: Make the frosting as soon as the cake is out of the oven. Combine the butter, buttermilk and cocoa in a small saucepan and bring to a boil while mixing. Combine with the confectioners' sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until smooth. Spread the frosting evenly on the cake.