Devil’S Food Cake – Country Living Holidays

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Servings: 12 Difficulty: Advanced
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Rich, moist chocolate cake with a glossy glaze and elegant checkerboard decoration
Devil's Food Cake - Country Living Holidays recipe image

This classic Devil’s Food Cake is the ultimate holiday showstopper, featuring incredibly moist chocolate layers that melt in your mouth. The secret lies in folding whipped egg whites into the batter, creating an airy yet dense texture that holds up beautifully to the rich cocoa frosting. Topped with a shiny semi-sweet chocolate glaze, it offers a perfect balance of bitter and sweet notes. The optional checkerboard decoration using cocoa powder and confectioners’ sugar adds a professional, festive touch that makes it ideal for Christmas gatherings or special celebrations. It’s a timeless dessert that feels luxurious yet relies on simple, pantry-staple ingredients.

Devil's Food Cake - Country Living Holidays recipe image
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Devil’S Food Cake – Country Living Holidays

Author: chefs-mate Cooking Method: , Cuisine: Courses:
Difficulty: Advanced
Servings: 12 Calories: 93.1

Description

This classic Devil's Food Cake is the ultimate holiday showstopper, featuring incredibly moist chocolate layers that melt in your mouth. The secret lies in folding whipped egg whites into the batter, creating an airy yet dense texture that holds up beautifully to the rich cocoa frosting. Topped with a shiny semi-sweet chocolate glaze, it offers a perfect balance of bitter and sweet notes. The optional checkerboard decoration using cocoa powder and confectioners' sugar adds a professional, festive touch that makes it ideal for Christmas gatherings or special celebrations. It&# 226;ÂÂs a timeless dessert that feels luxurious yet relies on simple, pantry-staple ingredients.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350ðF (177ðC). Generously grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans.
  2. In a large bowl, beat 1/4 cup softened butter, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract until light and fluffy.
  3. In a separate bowl, sift together 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 3 1/2 cups unsifted cake flour, and 2 teaspoons baking soda.
  4. Sift the dry ingredients over the butter mixture and beat at low speed just until smooth.
  5. Add 2 1/2 cups water and beat until the batter is smooth and uniform.
  6. In a clean medium bowl, beat 4 room-temperature egg whites until fluffy.
  7. Gradually add the remaining 3/4 cup sugar to the egg whites and beat until stiff peaks form.
  8. Gently fold the whipped egg whites into the chocolate batter, one-third at a time, being careful not to deflate the mixture.
  9. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans.
  10. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the centers spring back when lightly touched.
  11. Cool cakes in pans for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
  12. Make the frosting: Beat 1/3 cup softened butter, 1 1/2 lb confectioners' sugar, 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 3/4 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/3 to 1/2 cup milk until smooth.
  13. Spread a layer of frosting on one cake layer, stack the second layer, add another layer of frosting, and top with the third cake layer.
  14. Apply a thin crumb coat of frosting over the entire cake and refrigerate for 1 hour to set.
  15. Make the glaze: Melt 6 squares (1 oz each) semi-sweet chocolate and 4 tablespoons butter over hot (not boiling) water in a double boiler.
  16. Stir in 3 tablespoons cold water and 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar until the glaze is smooth and glossy.
  17. Place the chilled cake on a rack over a tray. Pour the glaze over the top, spreading it evenly to let it flow down the sides.
  18. Refrigerate the cake until the glaze is firm.
  19. For decoration: Place 1-inch strips of thin cardboard across the top of the cake, 1 inch apart. Sift unsweetened cocoa powder over the exposed spaces.
  20. Carefully remove the strips, then place them in the opposite direction. Sift confectioners' sugar over the new exposed spaces.
  21. Remove the strips to reveal a checkerboard pattern. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 12

Amount Per Serving
Calories 93.1kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 10.3g16%
Saturated Fat 3.3g17%
Cholesterol 0.0mg0%
Sodium 153.8mg7%
Total Carbohydrate 0.1g1%
Dietary Fiber 0.0g0%
Sugars 0.0g
Protein 0.1g1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Keywords: devil's food cake, chocolate cake, holiday dessert, christmas cake, country living, chocolate glaze, cocoa frosting, checkerboard cake, layer cake, moist chocolate cake, egg white batter, semi-sweet chocolate, cake decoration, classic dessert, baking
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