Devil’s Food Cake

devil's food cakeThis devil’s food cake is sinfully delicious and devilishly easy to make.  In fact, it’s probably the easiest homemade cake you’ll ever mix up. Winner!a large slice of homemade three-layer Chocolate Devil's Food Cake with Rich Chocolate Frosting with strawberry

However, despite the ease in baking, the finished product is very impressive!  It’s a BIG cake with a BIG CHOCOLATE taste.  

If you want/need less cake, just cut the recipe in half, and it’s the perfect size for a 13 x 9 inch pan.  Also winner!

devil's food cakeAnd … if you like chocolate-covered strawberries, then try strawberry-covered chocolate cake.  It will change your life!  

Devil's Food Cake
Serves 16
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
35 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
35 min
Cake Ingredients
  1. 3 cups all-purpose flour
  2. 3 cups granulated sugar
  3. 1 ½ cups unsweetened cocoa powder
  4. 1 tablespoon baking soda
  5. 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  6. 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  7. 4 large eggs, room temperature
  8. 1 ½ cups buttermilk
  9. 1 ½ cups warm water
  10. ½ cup vegetable oil
  11. 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Frosting Ingredients
  1. 4 cups powdered sugar
  2. 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  3. 1 ½ cups butter (3 sticks), softened to room temperature
  4. 4 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  5. ½ cup milk or cream, warmed to room temperature
  6. 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Cake Directions
  1. Grease 3 (9-inch) round cake pans with non-stick spray for baking, and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add eggs, buttermilk, warm water, oil, and vanilla, and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes or until completely smooth.
  3. Divide batter between 3 pans. It takes between 3 ½ and 4 cups per pan. Bake for 35 minutes or until a pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  4. Cool in pans for 15 minutes, then remove to racks and allow to cool completely.
Frosting Directions
  1. In a large mixing bowl combine powdered sugar, cocoa powder, butter, cream cheese, milk (or cream), and vanilla, and beat for 2-3 minutes until smooth and creamy.
  2. Frost each layer of cake, then the sides, and lastly the top.
  3. Refrigerate overnight.
Notes
  1. For a 13 x 9 inch pan, cut recipe in half, and bake for 30-35 minutes.
White Apron Blog http://whiteapronblog.com/
devil's food cake

Start by greasing 3 (9-inch) round cake pans with non-stick spray for baking, and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
(If you’re cutting the recipe in half, then grease a 13 x 9 inch pan.)

devil's food cake

In large mixing bowl, whisk together
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 cups granulated sugar
1 ½ cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons salt

devil's food cake

Add
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 ½ cups buttermilk
1 ½ cups warm water
½ cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes or just until completely smooth. Don’t over-mix.
(It will immediately start to bubble.)

devil's food cake

Divide batter between 3 pans. It takes between 3 ½ and 4 cups per pan. Bake for 35 minutes …

devil's food cake

… or until a pick inserted into the center comes out clean.

devil's food cake

Cool in pans for 15 minutes, then …

devil's food cake

… remove to racks and allow to cool completely.

When they’re cool, make the frosting.

devil's food cake

In a large mixing bowl combine
4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ cups butter (3 sticks), softened to room temperature
4 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
½ cup milk or cream, warmed to room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Beat until smooth and creamy.

devil's food cake

If you cut the recipe in half (be sure to cut the frosting recipe in half too) then all you need to do is slap the frosting on top of the cool cake. However, if you’re making the bigger layer cake fo the following.

devil's food cake

Place 3 strips of waxed paper along edges of cake plate, making sure that they overlap .

devil's food cake

Place one layer of the cake in the center of the plate, on top of the wax paper. Make sure that none of the plate is exposed. Scoop ¾ cup of frosting in center of the first layer, and spread evenly to edges.
Place second cake layer directly on top, scoop another ¾ cup of frosting, and spread to edges.

devil's food cake

Place last layer of cake on top, and spread frosting around sides.

devil's food cake

Frost top.
You can see that some of the frosting got on the wax paper, but that’s about to go away.

devil's food cake

Simply, but gently slide them out. It helps if you pull from opposite sides of the cake at the same time because then the cake doesn’t move. 🙂 

devil's food cake

There you have it: a gorgeous cake on a spotless plate! Simple, and …

devil's food cake

… so impressive!

devil's food cake

Refrigerate overnight to allow the frosting to set and the flavors to blend. It’s hard to wait, but trust me, it’s SO worth it!

devil's food cake

Then, slice, …

devil's food cake

…dig in!

devil's food cake

To take it to the next level of wonderful, top with fresh strawberries.