Chocolate cake a la Martha

For the latest birthday I had a request for a chocolate cake. I was browsing Martha's website and found her One-bowl Chocolate Cake recipe and decided that would be the winner. The cake was SUPER easy to make, and nice only having one bowl needed, although the frosting needs two. :) I used the chocolate frosting recipe she recommended to go with the cake.

So here we go!

Ingredients
Cake:

• Unsalted butter, softened, for pans
• 3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch cocoa powder, plus more for pans
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Frosting:(This made a lot of frosting, I probably used just over half of it, and that was putting it on thick. But, it is really yummy so make the full recipe and save it for later!

• 2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• Pinch of salt
• 6 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
• 3/4 cup sour cream

 Directions:
Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8 in round pans, dust with cocoa.

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat on low speed until just combined. (I also decided to try out this powdered cultured buttermilk, because I never use all of the carton when I buy the buttermilk. This was a simple alternative, you just add the powder to the dry ingredients and then the water when it asks for the buttermilk in the recipe. It seemed to work just fine for me.)

Raise speed to medium, and add eggs, buttermilk, water, oil, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.

Divide batter between pans. Bake about 30 minutes, or until set.

Frosting
Sift together sugar, cocoa, and salt.

In separate bowl, beat cream cheese and butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. (I often forget to soften the cream cheese or butter until its almost too late, but not this time. And, it was so much better have it softened!) :)

Reduce speed to medium-low; gradually add sugar-cocoa mixture, and beat until combined.

Pour in chocolate in a slow, steady stream.

Add sour cream; beat until combined.

Assemble the cake
Remove first layer from pan. Spread 2 cups chocolate frosting onto top of 1 cooled layer. (Like I said before, 2 cups leaves a VERY thick filling, I used about a cup and had a good amount in the middle.)

Top with remaining layer; frost top and sides with remaining 2 cups frosting.

 Decorate as desired and call yourself Martha Jr! :)