Chocolate Cake IV

YOUR BEST RECIPE Category Winner. Prep: 30 min., Bake: 30 min. The IV in the title comes from the four types of chocolate used in this outstanding cake.

Yield: Makes 12 to 14 servings

Ingredients

• PAM Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
• CRISCO Vegetable Shortening
• 1/2  (4-ounce) semisweet chocolate baking bar, chopped
• 1/2  (4-ounce) bittersweet chocolate baking bar, chopped
• 1/2  cup  butter, softened
• 2  cups  firmly packed DOMINO Light Brown Sugar
• 3  large eggs
• 2  teaspoons  vanilla extract
• 2 1/4  cups  cake flour
• 2  teaspoons  baking soda
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1/2  cup  buttermilk
• 1  cup  boiling water
• Coffee Liqueur Ganache Icing
• Mocha-Chocolate Cream Filling
• Garnish: dark chocolate curls

Preparation

1. Coat 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray. Line bottoms of pans with wax paper; grease wax paper with shortening, and set aside.

2. Melt chocolates in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth.

3. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears after each addition. Stir in melted chocolate and vanilla.

4. Sift together cake flour and next 3 ingredients; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended. Stir in 1 cup boiling water. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.

5. Bake at 350° for 28 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

6. Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread top with 4 tablespoons Coffee Liqueur Ganache Icing. Spread half of Mocha-Chocolate Cream Filling evenly over ganache on cake layer. Top with second cake layer; spread top with 4 tablespoons Coffee Liqueur Ganache Icing and remaining Mocha-Chocolate Cream Filling. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining Coffee Liqueur Ganache Icing on top and sides of cake. Garnish, if desired.