Nothing is better than a slice of homemade cake whether at a party or before bed after a hard day. Kick your feet up and I can assure you that you'll savor each little bite.I've tried all kinds of chocolate cakes and I found one that I really thought was the best. Also a secret to really good chocolate cake is to use really good chocolate.I really like the dutch kind. Saco has a excellent premium cocoa.
Classic Chocolate Cake
Ingredients: 2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cups butter (softened)
2/3 cpus granulated sugar
1/2 dark brown sugar
3 eggs
1/4 sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups milk
Directions
1.) Heat oven to 350 degrees f.Butter and flour two 8 inch round pans.
Set aside. Combine the flour,cocoa,baking powder,baking soda,and salt,set aside.
2.)Beat the butter and sugars together in a bowl using an electric mixer on medium-high
speed. Beat the eggs.Reduce speed to medium-low. Stir the sour cream,vanilla,and
milk together and add in thirds,alternating with the flour mixture.Beat until batter is smooth,
about 3 more minutes.
3.)Divide the batter equally between the prepared pans and bake until a wooden toothpick inserted
in the middle comes out clean. For layered cake it should take about 25 mins.Cool on a wire rack.
4.)Frost and decorate as desired.

Fluffy White Frosting
This is a type of frosting that is cooked over the stove,then whipped.This goes good with any type of cake and so pretty.

Ingredients:
1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup of water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
1.)In a saucepan,stir together the sugar,water and cream of tartar. Cook over medium-high heat until the sugar is dissolved
and the mixture is bubbly.
2.)In a medium mixing bowl,whip the egg whites and vanilla to soft peaks.Gradually add the sugar mixture while whipping
constantly until stiff peaks form,about 7-10 minutes.Frost the cake of your choice.

Another favorite of mine is a more earthy type of cake.It,s a moist single -layer vanilla cake that has a delicate texture.The old fashioned brown-butter
glaze that gives it a nutty flavor.This is a good basic cake to use in other recipes.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 cups (1 stick) unsalted butter (softened)
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs (room temperature)
1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cups whole milk
Directions
1.) Heat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly coat an 8-inch cake pan with butter and dust with all-purpose flour, Sift the cake flour,
baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl.
2.) Beat in the butter one heaping 1/4 teaspoonful at a time, using an electric mixer set on low speed, until the mixture resembles coarse sand.Beat in the
eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla and the milk,and beat on medium-high, just until blended. Do not over beat.
3.) Pour into the prepared pan and bake until toothpick inserted comes out clean.30-35 minutes. Cool cake in the pan on a wire rack.
4.)Un-mold and cool completely. Ice with Browned-Butter Glaze.

Browned-Butter Glaze
This old-fashioned glaze gives the cake a lovely nutty taste.
Ingredients
1/4 cups unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups sifted powder sugar
1/4 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons whole milk
1 teaspoon lemon juice
-------- Zest of 1 lemon
Directions
Melt the butter over medium-low heat until golden brown. Whisk the sugar, salt, milk,lemon juice,and zest together.Add the melted butter in a stream while
whisking until smooth. Pour over the cake.

It makes for a perfect end to a long day. It gets even better served with coffee, brewed with a teaspoon of cinnamon in the grounds and topped with a dollop of whipped
cream with sprinkled cinnamon over that.