BASIC CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE

We all need a good basic cake recipe and this is a good chocolate one.  You can add special fillings, frostings, and flavors to make this basic recipe your own!

1/2 cup butter
1 cup water
1/2 cup canola oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Coat 2 8-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray.  Line the bottoms of the pans with circles of wax paper and spray the paper before adding batter.

In a small saucepan heat the butter, water, and oil just until the butter is melted.  Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool to lukewarm.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt using a wire whisk.

Whisk the milk, eggs,  and vanilla into the lukewarm butter mixture.  Add all at once to the flour/sugar mixture; whisk to blend.

Pour the batter equally into the two prepared pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Remove from oven and cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes.  Run a thin knife or spatula around the edges to loosen cakes.  Invert onto the wire racks, remove the paper, and allow to cool completely before frosting with your favorite frosting.

file photo

file photo for reference