How to Make the Most Amazing Chocolate Cake

Summary

Join The Stay At Home Chef for a delightful tutorial on crafting the most amazing chocolate cake, reminiscent of the moist and delicious treat from Matilda. Learn to prepare a non-stick 9-inch pan with butter and cocoa, mix a rich batter with flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and other essentials, and bake to perfection. Discover the chef's favorite chocolate cream cheese buttercream frosting for a decadent finish. With a 3-layer cake and over 100 restaurant-quality recipes available, this video promises a culinary adventure for chocolate lovers.

Takeaways

• 🍰 The video demonstrates how to make an incredibly moist and delicious chocolate cake, inspired by the one described in the book 'Matilda'.
• 🔥 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit before starting the cake preparation.
• 🧈 To prepare the cake pans, butter and dust them with cocoa powder to prevent the cake from sticking.
• 🥣 Combine 3 cups of flour, 3 cups of sugar, 1 1/2 cups of cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt in a large mixing bowl.
• 🥚 Add wet ingredients such as eggs, buttermilk, hot water, and vegetable oil to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
• 🥄 Avoid overmixing the batter to ensure a tender crumb in the final cake.
• 🍽️ Divide the batter evenly among three 9-inch cake pans to create a three-layer cake.
• ⏱ Bake the cakes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 35 minutes, ensuring even baking by placing the pans in the center of the oven.
• 🍰 Allow the cakes to cool for about 10 minutes before removing them from the pans to complete the cooling process on a wire rack.
• 🧁 The video features a chocolate cream cheese buttercream frosting, made with high-quality cocoa powder for optimal flavor.
• 📜 The full recipe, including exact measurements and detailed instructions, can be found in the video description.

Q & A

What type of cake is being made in the video?

The video is about making The Most Amazing Chocolate Cake.

What is the initial temperature setting for the oven?

The oven should be preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

How is the 9-inch pan prepared for baking the cake?

The pan is buttered and then dusted with cocoa powder to prevent the cake from sticking.

How many layers does the chocolate cake have?

The chocolate cake is a three-layer cake.

What ingredients are mixed in the large mixing bowl for the cake batter?

The ingredients include flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

What wet ingredients are added to the dry ingredients in the batter?

The wet ingredients added are eggs, buttermilk, hot water, and vegetable oil.

What is the recommended method to ensure the batter is evenly distributed in the pans?

Using a measuring cup to scoop and fill the batter evenly in each pan.

How long should the cakes bake in the oven?

The cakes should bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

What is the frosting being made for the chocolate cake?

The frosting being made is a chocolate cream cheese buttercream.

What is the importance of using high-quality cocoa powder for the cake and frosting?

High-quality cocoa powder makes a significant difference in taste and texture.

Where can the full written recipe be found?

The full written recipe can be found in the video description.

Outlines

00:00

🍰 Preparing The Most Amazing Chocolate Cake

The script begins with the host of The Stay At Home Chef introducing a recipe for a moist and delicious chocolate cake, reminiscent of the one in the movie Matilda. The first step involves preheating the oven to 350 degrees F and preparing a 9-inch pan with butter and cocoa powder to prevent sticking. The baking process requires three pans to be buttered and dusted in this manner for a three-layer cake. The batter's ingredients—flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, eggs, buttermilk, hot water, and vegetable oil—are combined in a large mixing bowl. The host emphasizes the importance of not overmixing and using a hand scraper for even distribution. The cakes are baked for 30 to 35 minutes in the center of the oven, and once done, they are cooled on a wire rack before being removed from their pans. While the cakes cool, the host suggests preparing a chocolate cream cheese buttercream frosting, which is their favorite for this cake, starting with cream cheese and butter, then adding cocoa powder, milk, and powdered sugar for a smooth and creamy texture.

05:02

🎉 Enjoying The Decadent Chocolate Cake Experience

The second paragraph of the script wraps up the video with an invitation to viewers to indulge in the decadent chocolate cake, humorously suggesting they put on 'fat pants' to enjoy a slice. The host encourages viewers to find the full written recipe in the video description and to subscribe to the channel for access to over 100 restaurant-quality recipes that can be made at home. The summary ends with a friendly sign-off, promising more great cooking content in future videos.

Keywords

💡Chocolate Cake

Chocolate cake is a dessert that is made with chocolate as one of its key ingredients. It is a popular choice for celebrations and special occasions due to its rich and indulgent flavor. In the video, the host is making 'The Most Amazing Chocolate Cake,' which is described as moist and delicious, reminiscent of the cake from the story 'Matilda.' The recipe includes cocoa powder and chocolate cream cheese buttercream frosting, emphasizing the chocolate theme throughout.

💡Preheat

Preheating refers to the process of heating an oven to a specific temperature before placing food inside to cook. This ensures that the food is cooked evenly and at the right temperature from the start. In the script, the oven is preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a standard temperature for baking cakes and is crucial for the proper rise and texture of the chocolate cake.

💡Butter and Dust

Buttering and dusting a cake pan is a technique used to prepare the pan for baking, ensuring that the cake does not stick to the sides or bottom. The script describes using softened butter on a paper towel to grease the pan and then dusting it with cocoa powder or flour to create a non-stick layer. This method is essential for easy removal of the cake from the pan after baking.

💡Cake Rounds

Cake rounds are individual layers of cake that are baked separately and then stacked on top of each other to create a multi-layered cake. The script mentions preparing three 9-inch cake rounds, which will be used to create a three-layer chocolate cake. This technique allows for a more impressive presentation and can also provide different flavors or textures in each layer.

💡Batter

Batter is a semi-liquid mixture of ingredients that is used to make various baked goods, including cakes. In the context of the video, the batter is made by combining dry ingredients like flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and baking soda, with wet ingredients such as eggs, buttermilk, hot water, and vegetable oil. The batter is then divided among the prepared cake pans to be baked.

💡Baking Soda

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a leavening agent used in baking to help baked goods rise by producing carbon dioxide when it reacts with an acid or when heated. In the video, baking soda is one of the dry ingredients in the chocolate cake recipe, contributing to the cake's light and fluffy texture.

💡Baking Powder

Baking powder is another leavening agent, similar to baking soda, but it contains both an acid and a base, allowing it to release carbon dioxide without the need for an additional acidic ingredient. The script includes baking powder in the recipe, which helps the chocolate cake to rise and achieve a tender crumb.

💡Cream Cheese Buttercream

Cream cheese buttercream is a type of frosting made from cream cheese, butter, sugar, and sometimes additional flavorings. It is known for its rich, tangy flavor and creamy texture. In the video, the host chooses to make a chocolate cream cheese buttercream for the cake, which complements the chocolate flavor and adds a luxurious finish to the dessert.

💡Cocoa Powder

Cocoa powder is a dry powder made from ground cocoa beans, used as a flavoring agent in baking and cooking. It is a key ingredient in the chocolate cake recipe, providing the characteristic chocolate flavor. The script emphasizes the importance of using high-quality cocoa powder for both the cake and the frosting, as it significantly impacts the final taste and quality of the dessert.

💡Even Baking

Even baking refers to the process of ensuring that all parts of a baked good cook at the same rate, resulting in a uniform texture and color. The script advises placing the cake pans in the center of the oven for even baking. This is important for the chocolate cake to bake consistently, preventing some parts from being overcooked or undercooked.

💡Frosting

Frosting is a sweet, often creamy or fluffy, topping applied to cakes and other baked goods to enhance flavor and appearance. The video script describes making a chocolate cream cheese buttercream frosting, which is a rich and flavorful accompaniment to the chocolate cake. Frosting not only adds taste but also provides a decorative element, making the cake more visually appealing.

Highlights

Preheating the oven to 350 degrees F is the initial step for baking the chocolate cake.

Butter and dusting a 9-inch pan with softened butter and cocoa powder prevents the cake from sticking.

Three 9-inch cake rounds are prepared for a three-layer chocolate cake.

Combining dry ingredients such as flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt is essential for the cake batter.

Incorporating wet ingredients like eggs, buttermilk, hot water, and vegetable oil into the dry mix.

Avoiding overmixing ensures a tender texture for the cake.

Using a hand scraper to ensure all ingredients are incorporated evenly.

Dividing the batter evenly among the three pans using a measuring cup.

Baking the cakes at 350 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes in the center of the oven for even baking.

Cooling the cakes on a wire rack before removing them from the pan.

Creating a chocolate cream cheese buttercream as the preferred frosting for the cake.

The importance of using high-quality cocoa powder for both the cake and the frosting.

Adding milk and powdered sugar to the buttercream to achieve the right consistency.

Assembling the cake layers with the chocolate cream cheese buttercream for a decadent dessert.

The full written recipe is available in the video description for viewers to follow.

Encouraging viewers to subscribe for more restaurant-quality recipes that can be made at home.

The promise of over 100 recipes that cater to a variety of tastes and preferences.

Transcripts

Today on The Stay At Home Chef I'm showing you how to make

The Most Amazing Chocolate Cake

This is the kind of chocolate cake I image the fat kid ate in Matilda.

It is so moist and so good!

We're going to start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F

and then I'm going to show you how to butter a 9-inch pan.

Put some softened butter onto a paper towel

and then spread it around the bottom and sides of the pan.

Make sure you get all the sides and edges

You don't want this cake to stick.

Then you can either pour in some all-purpose flour

or, since we're making a chocolate cake,

I'm going to use cocoa powder

Sprinkle it in.

Then shake the pan back and forth

so you cover all of the bottom

tap out the excess

and I turn it so it gets all of the sides covered

then make sure you give it a hard couple of pats and tap out all of the excess

either into a garbage can or the sink

and then just set those pans aside.

You're going to want to butter and dust three 9-inch cake rounds.

This is going to be a 3 layer cake

and it's amazing!

Next, we're going to put together our batter.

In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 cups of flour

3 cups of sugar

1 1/2 cups of cocoa powder

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Give this a quick whisk to combine it.

Next, we'll add in all of our wet ingredients.

You can either continue whisking this by hand or

switch to a hand mixer.

So pour in 4 eggs

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1 1/2 cups hot water

and 1/2 cup vegetable oil

And then mix this all together.

Now, you don't want to over mix this.

You're really just looking to combine all the ingredients and

make sure that there's no flour

or cocoa powder left on the side.

In fact, I like to finish it off

by using a hand scraper

just scraping the sides and the bottom to make sure everything got in.

Now we're ready to divide the batter among the three pans.

I find that the easiest way to do this is to use a measuring cup

and just scoop it in.

I have found that it takes about 3 cups of the batter to

fill each pan evenly.

We're going to bake these in the 350 degree F oven for

30 to 35 minutes.

Make sure that you move the rack to the center so that you are baking the cake in the very center of the oven.

This will ensure the most even baking.

If you can only fit two of your cakes at a time, that's fine.

You can bake the third one right after.

Once they're done, remove them from the oven

and place them on a wire rack to cool

Let them cool for about 10 minutes before turning them over and

removing them from the pan.

While you are waiting for the cakes to cool you can go ahead and

put together your frosting

Now, I've used all kinds of frosting for this cake.

Including whipped chocolate ganache

which is pretty good.

Today we're making a chocolate cream cheese buttercream

which happens to be my favorite.

Start out with 8 ounces of cream cheese in a bowl and

add in 1 1/2 cups of softened butter

Use a hand mixer to whip this together.

Once it is light and fluffy

add in 1 1/2 cups cocoa powder

the kind of cocoa powder you use for this and the cake really matters

Use the highest quality cocoa powder you can find.

It really makes a difference.

Mix this together.

At this point I always add in a couple tablespoons of milk.

You may need to add more later.

Frosting is a fickle thing so the amount of milk you add can really vary.

So just eyeball it and trust yourself.

We're going to add in about 8 cups of powdered sugar total.

I like to add it in about 1 cup at a time.

In the end it should look a little something like this.

Now I'm going to finish mine off with a scraper just to make sure all of that powdered sugar gets mixed in

Once our cakes are cool we can put it all together with the frosting.

Trust me, this is the most decadent, divine chocolate cake.

Now put on those fat pants and enjoy a slice of the most amazing chocolate cake!

You can find the full written recipe in the video description.

Be sure to subscribe to my channel and check out my other great cooking videos.

There's over 100 restaurant quality recipes you can easily make at home

so there's sure to be something that you like!

See you later!