EPISODE 1

This cake will absolutely blow your mind. It’s moist, it’s delicious, and it’s positively decadent. Both components freeze beautifully, which allows you to prepare this cake ahead of time. It’s perfect for birthdays, special occasions, or those nights when you just really want a slice of chocolate cake. Enjoy!

Ingredients – Cake

• 2¼ cups flour
• ¾ cup cocoa
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup oil
• 1 cup buttermilk/sour milk*
• 1 cup very hot water
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4 oz finely chopped unsweetened chocolate

*To make sour milk, warm 1 cup of milk and add 1 tsp of lemon juice or white vinegar and let it sit for a few minutes until it curdles.

Instructions – Cake

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Grease and flour two 8 pans or one large 11″x13″ pan. Sift the dry ingredients into one bowl. Combine the wet ingredients in another bowl.

Combine the wet and dry ingredients in one bowl and mix until smooth. Add the chopped chocolate. Divide the batter between the two pans. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean when stuck in the middle of the cakes. I suggest rotating the two pans around 20 minutes into the cooking time in order to make sure they cook evenly.

The two cake pans will take 40 to 50 minutes to bake. If you’re making one large cake, it will take closer to 60-70 minutes.

Ingredients – Icing

• ¾ cup softened butter
• 6 oz melted unsweetened chocolate
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder
• ¼-½ tsp salt (to taste)
• 4½ cups icing sugar
• ⅓ cup milk
• 3 tsp vanilla

Instructions – Icing

Melt the chocolate and allow it to cool a little bit. Cream the butter until smooth and add the melted chocolate. Once that’s well incorporated, add the cocoa, the salt, and half the icing sugar. Blend until the icing forms smalls rubble-like bits. Add half the milk and the vanilla. Blend until smooth, and repeat with the remaining icing sugar and milk. Taste and add a pinch of salt if necessary.

Try to resist the urge to eat the icing straight out of the bowl. Put it on the cake instead. It’s delicious. I promise.