Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp hot water
Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer or whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rubber spatula
- 9-inch round cake pans
- Parchment paper (optional)
- Cooling rack
Step-by-Step Instructions
To get started, I preheat my oven to 350°F (175°C). First, I grease and flour my cake pans, making sure to line the bottoms with parchment paper for easy removal later. In a large bowl, I whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, setting it aside for later. In a separate bowl, I cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This step is crucial because it adds air to the batter, creating that lovely rise. Once it’s fluffy, I mix in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. The smell of the vanilla swirling through my kitchen is just divine! (See the next page below to continue steps…)