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Cowtown Chocolate Cake



Cowtown Chocolate Cake
Source: Maida Heatter's Cakes (Andrews & McMeel Publishing, 2011 ed.), pg. 78 and (Source: Maida Heatter's Book of Great American Desserts (Alfred A. Knopf, 1982, pg. 114).

It has been awhile since I've made a chocolate cake. That is an odd statement since I absolutely love chocolate cakes (or anything chocolate for that matter). A few weeks ago I made this cake which hails from Fort Worth, Texas (aka "Cowtown"). It is wonderfully dense and fudgy and the icing is a wonderful soft icing that stays soft. 

Watch your baking time carefully. When I took the cake out of the oven (about 20-25 minutes) it looked dry and I was sure I had overbaked. However, it just appears that way and it was fine and actually quite moist. 

1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-process)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. powdered (not granular) instant coffee or expresso
5 oz. unsweetened chocolate
4 oz. (1 stick) unsalted butter (softened)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup white sugar
3 eggs, separated
1 1/4 cups buttermilk

You can get the full directions here. 

Be sure to sift several times!
 












Icing

 1 cup whipping cream
1 cup sugar
4 1/2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
Pinch of salt
4 oz. (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into slices
1 tsp. vanilla extract

 In a medium saucepan, stir the cream and sugar over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

 Remove the pan from the heat and add the chocolate, stirring until melted. Add the salt, butter and vanilla and stir until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth.

 Place the pan in a large bowl of ice water and scrape the bottom constantly for a few minutes with a rubber spatula until the icing is cool and slightly thickened. Transfer the mixture to a small bowl and beat with an electric mixer at high speed for a few minutes until the icing is thick enough to hold its shape.

 Spread the icing between the cake layers and around the sides.

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Comments

Jen said…
Ooooh. I'm making this cake asap. 1) Fort Worth is my hometown, and 2) I want a new cake recipe for my daughter's first birthday, which we'll be celebrating at the end of the month! Perfect timing, Philip!
July 6, 2013 at 6:52 PM
Kate said…
This recipe looks great although you're missing a few ingredients! I figured it by cross referencing with another recipe, but it would be extra awesome if you amended your post.
March 31, 2014 at 9:32 PM
Phillip Oliver said…
Thanks Kate and sorry about that. I will review it now.
April 1, 2014 at 2:25 PM
Unknown said…
This is my "go-to" chocolate cake recipe; I've been making it for years to raves from everyone who takes a bite. However, I'm in the process of building a new house and all of my cookbooks are packed away! So glad I found this recipe on this site. Thank you!!!
August 22, 2018 at 3:50 PM
isabella wilson said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
June 25, 2020 at 3:41 AM
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