Devil's Food Cake

How to Make Devil's Food Cake

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1. Heat the oven to 175°C / 350°F (155°C / 310°F fan). Grease and line two 20 cm round cake tins.

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2. Sift the flour, cocoa, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a bowl.

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3. Beat the 115 g of butter with the caster and brown sugars for 3 minutes, until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla.

   Mark done Start 3 min timer

4. Beat in the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk, until just combined. Stir in the hot coffee until smooth. The batter will be thin.

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5. Divide between the tins and bake for 28 to 30 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean. Cool in the tins for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely, about 1 hour.

   Mark done Start 28 min timer

6. For the frosting, melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, or in the microwave in 20-second bursts, then cool it until lukewarm.

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7. Beat the 225 g of butter for 3 minutes, until pale. Beat in the icing sugar, then the soured cream, vanilla, salt and cooled chocolate, until smooth and glossy.

   Mark done Start 3 min timer

8. Sandwich the layers with a third of the frosting and spread the rest over the top and sides.

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Tips for Making Devil's Food Cake

• The batter is thin. That is right. It makes a moist, tender cake, and adding more flour to thicken it would make it dry.
• Cool the melted chocolate before beating it into the frosting. Hot chocolate melts the butter and gives a greasy frosting that will not hold.
• Frost the cake only when it is completely cold. A warm cake melts the frosting and the layers slide.

Common Substitutions & Variations

• Out of buttermilk? Stir a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar into the same amount of ordinary milk and let it sit five minutes before using.

What to Serve with Devil's Food Cake

• Vanilla ice cream
• Cold milk
• Hot coffee

Storing & Reheating Devil's Food Cake

Keeps in an airtight container at cool room temperature for 3 days, or in the fridge for 5 days. Bring to room temperature before serving. The unfrosted layers freeze for 2 months.

Devil's Food Cake FAQ: Common Questions

Devil's Food Cake Nutrition

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.