1942 Devil’s Food Cake

⏱ 75 mins 🍽 12 serving(s) 🏷 Dessert

This is a traditional recipe for a classic Devil's Food Cake, dating from 1942. It creates a rich, moist chocolate layer cake using unsweetened chocolate and sour cream. The batter is prepared by melting chocolate and combining it with butter, boiling water, and dry ingredients. It bakes into two 9-inch rounds, which are then cooled and are recommended to be frosted. The total preparation and baking time is approximately 75 minutes, yielding 12 servings.

1942 Devil’s Food Cake

Ingredients

  • 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
  • 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces
  • 3/4 cup boiling water
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 6 tablespoons sour cream or 6 tablespoons buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs

Method

  1. Grease two 9-inch round cake tins and line the bases with parchment or waxed paper.
  2. Place an oven rack in the centre and heat the oven to 350°.
  3. Melt the unsweetened chocolate in a large bowl set over hot water, ensuring it does not simmer, then allow it to cool.
  4. Combine the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl, stirring them together thoroughly.
  5. Add the pieces of butter to the melted chocolate, followed by the 3/4 cup of boiling water, and stir until well combined.
  6. Whisk the sugar and sour cream into the chocolate mixture.
  7. Stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, then whisk in the two large eggs.
  8. Divide the cake batter evenly between the prepared tins and smooth the surfaces.
  9. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
  10. Let the cakes cool in their tins on wire racks for 5 minutes before turning them out onto the racks to cool completely.
  11. It is recommended to frost the cooled layers with a fluffy white frosting or a whipped ganache.

Nutrition (per serving)

Sodium193500 mg

Recipe details

CategoryDessert
Authorratherbeswimmin