Yellow cake with chocolate frosting

Yellow cake with chocolate frosting

Cake:

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened

2 cups granulated sugar

4 eggs

Frosting:

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter

1/3 cup each: Cocoa powder, evaporated milk or half-and-half

4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Makes 12 servings.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Combine the milk and vanilla in a small bowl; set aside.

Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add the sugar; beat until light and evenly combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until the mixture is smooth, about 3 minutes. Add one-third of the flour mixture; beat on low speed until well combined. Beat in half of the milk mixture. Beat in one-third of the flour mixture and the remaining milk. Beat in the remaining flour mixture just until combined.

Scrape the batter into two greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans; bake until golden brown and cakes spring back when touched lightly in the center, 25-30 minutes. Cool pans on wire racks 10 minutes; turn out the cakes onto the racks. Turn the layers top side up. Cool completely.

For the frosting, combine the butter, cocoa and evaporated milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat; heat to a gentle boil. Cook, stirring, until mixture is dark and shiny, about 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat; stir in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat with an electric mixer on low speed until smooth and thick.

Place one cake layer, top side down, on a cake plate; spread about 1 cup of the frosting over the top. Cover with second cake layer, top side up; spread the remaining frosting evenly over the sides and top.

Nutritional information per serving: 641 calories, 35 percent of calories from fat, 26 g fat, 16 g saturated fat, 134 mg cholesterol, 99 g carbohydrates, 7 g protein, 200 mg sodium, 2 g fiber.

This story was originally published May 21, 2008 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Yellow cake with chocolate frosting."