Milla’s Very Own Chocolate Cake

Our adorable grand-daughter turns two years old, this week. When I asked what kind of cake she wanted for her birthday party, her shy reply was a barely audible “Chok-lit.” When I asked which type of icing she preferred, she 

Milla, on being told she's
having a birthday cake

whispered “White.” So that is what I made. This superb chocolate cake is very easy to prepare. Rich and moist, this cake boasts a deep, dark chocolate flavor that compliments any chocolate or white frosting. To cut calories, serve it with a light dusting of icing sugar on top and a few raspberries on the side. 

Because Milla’s choice was to have a white topping on her cake, I made White Mountain Frosting decorated with Fabulous Chocolate Glaze (see the posts immediately below this one). How could anyone turn down such an adorable little girl? I dedicate this cake to every child with a birthday today! You are all adorable, Dollinks! 

Beauty is in the sighs of her beholder

Milla’s Very Own Chocolate Cake:

2 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. baking soda

½ c. cocoa

½ tsp. salt

2 c. granulated sugar

½ c. canola oil

2 large eggs

2 c. buttermilk

2 tsp. vanilla

Have all ingredients at room temperature. Preheat oven to 350 deg. F. Sift and combine dry ingredients. Add liquid ingredients to a separate bowl, combining well. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients all at once, beating with electric mixer on medium speed and scraping down sides of bowl and beaters several times. Divide evenly between two 9-in. circular pans (or a 9x13-in. pan) greased and dusted with cocoa. Bake 40-to-45 min., until toothpick inserted at the center of cake comes out clean and cake springs back when lightly touched with a finger at its center.

PS: Milla is adorable! Or have I already told you that?

Sift and combine dry ingredients

Bake until cakes test done

Apply the fingertip test ...

Or the toothpick test

I wrapped and stacked these cakes in the freezer days before I needed them. This saved me some time in the mad rush of preparing for Milla’s birthday party. See the next two posts for the finished results!