Recipe: Celestial chocolate cake

Total time: 1 hour, 40 minutes, plus cooling time

Servings: 10 to 12

Note: Adapted from “Southern Cakes.” Because the filling is made of whipped cream, it may begin to break down if the cake is left in a warm location for too long. Be sure to serve soon after completion.

Cake

1 cup cocoa

2 cups boiling water

2 3/4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, plus additional for greasing pans

2 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 eggs

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans.

2. Place the cocoa in a small mixing bowl and pour 2 cups boiling water over it. Stir well with a fork until smooth, and set aside to cool.

3. Put the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl and stir with a fork to mix well. Set aside.

4. With a mixer, beat the butter and sugar at high speed until well combined. Add the vanilla and then the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each until the mixture is smooth and light.

5. Add the flour mixture in four batches, beating after each addition only until the flour disappears. Alternate with the cocoa mixture in three batches, beating after each just enough to combine everything into a smooth, luscious batter, stopping once or twice to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

6. Divide the batter among the three cake pans. Bake until the cakes spring back when touched lightly in the center and are beginning to pull away from the sides of the pans, 25 to 30 minutes.

7. Place the cake pans on wire racks and cool the cake layers for 10 minutes. Then gently turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely, top side up.

Whipped-cream filling

1 cup heavy whipping cream, very cold

1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon vanilla

In a mixer bowl, combine the cream, sugar and vanilla and beat until thick and luscious. Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to complete the cake.

Chocolate frosting

1 (16-ounce) package semisweet chocolate bits, about 2 3/4 cups

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, cut into chunks

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the chocolate bits, cream and butter. Cook gently over medium heat, stirring often to help the butter and chocolate to melt, and to avoid letting the mixture come to a boil. When the chocolate and butter have melted, transfer the mixture to a medium bowl and allow it to come to room temperature. Add the powdered sugar and beat well at medium speed until thick enough to spread, stopping often to scrape down the bowl.

2. To complete the cake, place the first layer, top side down on a serving plate and spread half the whipped cream filling almost to the edge. Cover with a second layer, top side down, and spread the remaining whipped cream filling. Place the third layer, top side up, over the filling. Spread the chocolate frosting over the sides and then top of the cake.

Each of 12 servings: 966 calories; 9 grams protein; 120 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams fiber; 56 grams fat; 34 grams saturated fat; 192 mg. cholesterol; 372 mg. sodium.