Devil's Food Cake

Who can resist a fudgy, moist, chocolate-y cake like this?

Makes 1 8-inch cake  Prep Time 30 minutes  Baking Time 15 minutes

2 1/2 cups all-purpose fl our
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
         (No buttermilk? See tip below)
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup hot water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

For the caramel filling
1 1/8 cups butter
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
2 cups sugar
1 cup milk

For the chocolate frosting
250 grams semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1  Preheat oven to 325ºF. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.

2  Make the cake: In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

3  With an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time. Alternately beat in flour mixture and buttermilk until smooth.

4  Place cocoa powder in a small bowl. Pour hot water over chocolate, and stir until melted. Mix chocolate, vanilla, and lemon juice into the buttermilk batter. Divide batter evenly among the prepared cake pans.

5  Bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in pans, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.

6  Make the caramel filling: Mix all ingredients together in a saucepan. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil, and cook until temperature reaches 225ºF on a candy thermometer. Remove saucepan from heat, and set in a large bowl filled with ice water. Beat with a hand mixer until spreadable. It will start to thicken as it begins to cool. Transfer filling to a clean bowl.

7  Make the frosting: Place chopped chocolate in a medium stainless steel bowl. Set aside. Heat cream and butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Immediately pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and stand for 5 minutes. Stir with a whisk until smooth.

8  Assemble the cake: Spread caramel filling over one cake layer. Stack the other cake over it. Ice cake with chocolate frosting and pipe with more caramel if desired.

Substitution tip: No buttermilk? For 1 cup of buttermilk required, use 15 tablespoons milk plus 1 tablespoon acid (vinegar or lemon juice).

Photography by At Maculangan | Styling by Angelo Comsti and Elaine P. Lim  | Props from Rustan’s Department Store and Saizen