Cakes On Clouds

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 cups hot water
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 T white vinegar
3/4 T instant coffee
1 T vanilla extract

     Spray 2 round cake pans with non-stick spray. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix by hand the first 5 ingredients in a big bowl. In a small cup combine remaining ingredients. Whisk the small bowl into the dry ingredients till mixed, don't over mix and don't worry about a few lumps. You don't want to overwork the batter.

     Pour batter evenly between the 2 pans and place on ovens center rack. Bake for about 37 minutes checking for doneness when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

     Let cakes cool down on a wire rack for 15 minutes then turn pans over and place cakes on plates till completely cool. Leave them upside down to flatten.


Chocolate Frosting

1 stick butter, unsalted
1/2 cups sugar                                                                                                                                           1  1/4 cups of the cocoa powder
1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp. instant coffee
2 tsp. vanilla extract

      Melt butter in sauce pot on medium heat. Mix in sugar, cocoa, and salt. In a separate small bowl combine sour cream, heavy cream, and instant coffee. Whisk till mixture is smooth. Add the cream mix to cocoa mix and cook about 7 minutes till all smooth and melted. Don't let it boil. Remove from heat and add the vanilla extract and cool for 2 or3 hours. Frost cake and enjoy!


photo credit: gurke via photopin cc