Moist Chocolate Cake with Ganache frosting

I kind of got stuck with this recipe already! It's so simple and easy to make, it's a one-bowl recipe, and it's really yummy.

(Sorry for the pictures! Wish I had three hands! I took all those pictures with my other hand. It's really hard. If I asked for assistance, the pictures would've looked much better. Now I know...)

You will need:

• an oven
• a hand-held or stand mixer
• a rubber spatula
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• two 9-inch round pans
• a medium-sized mixing bowl
• a cake plate
• a double boiler or sauce pan
• an angled spatula or palette knife
• a whisk

The Cake

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup Bendsorp cocoa (or any alkalized / dutch-processed cocoa powder)
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup palm oil (you may use vegetable oil or corn oil)
• 1 cup hot coffee
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla (1 teaspoon if using McKormick)
  

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven 325 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round pans and line with parchment paper.

2. Sift cocoa on a medium-sized mixing bowl.

3. Sift flour on a piece of wax paper and measure with a spoon to a measuring cup and trim using the back of a knife. Add in with cocoa.





4. Sift salt, baking powder, and baking soda over cocoa and flour.

5. Add in brown and white sugar. Whisk all dry ingredients to incorporate well.

6. Create a well at the center using a rubber spatula or spoon and pour in oil and milk. Mix with a rubber spatula just until dry ingredients are moistened.





7. Pour hot coffee and beat for 2 minutes on low speed. Batter will be thin.





8. Add in eggs and vanilla and beat for 1 minute on medium speed. Scrape bottom and sides of bowl using rubber spatula and beat for another 10 seconds.





9. Pour batter on prepared pans and bake each for 18-22 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out with a few moist crumbs.

NOTE: If toothpick comes out clean, it means that the cake was slightly over baked and will become a bit dry. You may brush it with a simple syrup or glaze.

The Frosting

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chopped semi-sweet or dark chocolate
  
• 1/2 cup all purpose cream
• 1/2 cup margarine or butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Procedure:

1. Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl or double boiler.

2. Place mixing bowl on top of saucepan with water and simmer until chocolate has melted.

3. Whisk until smooth and free from lumps.

4. Stir in vanilla.

5. Allow to cool.