Archives for January 2016

Wellesley Fudge Cake aka The BEST Chocolate Cake Ever!

This recipe is my families favorite chocolate cake recipe. I have made it countless times now. Everyone agrees, the fudgy frosting is the best part! However I think my niece loves this cake more than anyone else. My niece always requests this cake for her birthday every year. She also thinks that for everyone’s birthday they should also have it because then she gets to eat it too!

The original recipe calls for you to make it in two 8×8 inch square pans but I make mine in a 9×13″ pan instead because it is easier & you end up with a thick layer of frosting on top. I also cut the recipe in half & make it in one 8×8 inch pan which works out great when you are feeding only a few people.

This recipe calls for an ingredient that you may not be familiar with if your like me, Dutch-processed Cocoa Powder. However it is easy to find, every grocery store should carry it, its located next to the regular cocoa powdered. I use Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Cocoa, if you read the label it says it is Dutch-processed. *Note* You use the Dutch-processed cocoa powdered in the cake but regular cocoa powder in the frosting.

Wellesley Fudge Cake

 

Print

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 16

Ingredients

• -THE CAKE-
• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup hot water
• ½ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk (or make your own buttermilk with vinegar- see below*)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ----------------------------------
• -THE FROSTING-
• 3½ cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1½ cups packed light brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup half and half (or heavy whipping cream)
• ½ cup bittersweet chocolate chips (like ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate chips or you can use semisweet chocolate chips)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. The Cake: Preheat oven to 350˚F.
2. Grease a 9x13" baking pan. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl, set aside.
3. Using a small bowl, whisk hot water, vanilla, & cocoa powder until smooth.
4. Using an electric mixer beat the butter & sugar until light and fluffy. Add in 1 egg at a time. Add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with 2 additions of buttermilk, until combined. Reduce speed to low & slowly add cocoa mixture until incorporated.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan.
6. Bake for 25-30 min (mine usually takes longer) or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
7. The Frosting: Sift together the powdered sugar & cocoa in a bowl, set aside.
8. In a large saucepan heat 4 tablespoons butter, brown sugar, salt, and ½ cup half and half over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until small bubbles appear around perimeter of pan, 4 to 5 minutes.
9. Reduce heat to low, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens slightly and turns deep golden brown, about 8 minutes.
10. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in remaining butter & remaining half and half until butter is melted. Add the chocolate chips & the vanilla and stir until smooth. Slowly whisk in the bowl of powdered sugar & cocoa. Wait a couple minutes for it to cool then spread on cooled cake. Wait for frosting to set, then serve. (You can put it in the frig to help it set faster)

3.5.3251

(This post contains amazon affiliate links)   recipe adapted slightly from Sifting Focus