Devil's Food Cake

Devil’s Food Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour (if using cake flour use 2 cups + 4 tbsp)

• 1.5 tsp baking soda

• 0.75 tsp baking powder

• 0.75 tsp salt

• 1.5 sticks (12 tbsp) butter, room temperature

• 2 cups white sugar

• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (sifted)

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• 3 eggs, room temperature

• 1¼ cups water

• ¼ cup milk

• 1–2 tsp instant espresso powder (optional but recommended)

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Instructions

1. Prepare oven and pans
   Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment circles if possible.

2. In a small saucepan heat water and milk until very hot but not boiling. Remove from heat and stir in 1–2 tsp instant espresso powder until dissolved. Let cool 2–3 minutes so it is hot/warm but not scalding.

3. Mix dry ingredients
   In a bowl, whisk together:

   • flour

   • baking soda

   • baking powder

   • salt
     

4. In a stand mixer on medium speed, beat butter until smooth, about 2–3 minutes.

5. Increase speed slightly and slowly add the sugar. Beat for 4 more minutes, until light and fluffy.

6. Add the sifted cocoa powder and vanilla extract. Beat for 2 minutes, scraping the bowl as needed.

7. Turn mixer to low. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

8. Combine batter (alternate dry and liquid)
   With mixer on low, add ingredients in this order:

   • ⅓ of the flour mixture

   • ½ of the hot liquid

   • ⅓ of the flour mixture

   • remaining liquid

   • final ⅓ flour mixture

   Mix just until combined. Do not overmix! Finish gently folding with a spatula if needed.

   (The batter will be fairly thin — this is normal.)

9. Divide batter evenly between pans.

   Bake on the middle rack for 30–35 minutes, until:

   • the center springs back when lightly pressed

   • or a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs but not wet batter

10. Cool
    Let cakes cool in pans 10–15 minutes, then turn out onto racks to cool completely.