CHOCOLATE ANNIVERSARY CAKE: Happy Anniversary to Me!

Today is my Anniversary. I have been married to Frank for several wonderful years. I often post Birthday Chocolate Cakes or Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake (Frank's favorite) for our special days, but I love Anniversary Chocolate Cake! You'd be surprised how many Anniversary Chocolate Cake recipes there are. I like this recipe from MidwestLiving the best. It's easy to make (40 minutes) and delicious. It's also a towering cake, so visually it's lovely. I tweaked the recipe just a bit. As always use the very best ingredients.

Chocolate Anniversary Cake

Ingredients 
4 eggs
1 cup unsalted butter
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 ounces dark chocolate (use the best!)
1/2 cup water
2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk (see note)
Fudge Frosting
Ganache
Chocolate Curls

Directions
Separate eggs. Allow egg whites, egg yolks, and butter to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Grease and flour three 8 x 1-1/2-inch or 9 x1-1/2-inch round cake pans and two 6 x 1-1/2-inch cake pans; set pans aside.
In medium bowl stir together flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
In small saucepan heat chocolate and water over medium-low heat until chocolate is melted, stirring frequently. Set aside to cool.
In very large mixing bowl beat butter with electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar; beat until well combined. Add  egg yolks, one at time, beating well after each addition. Beat in melted chocolate and vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined.
Thoroughly wash and dry beaters.
In medium mixing bowl beat egg whites until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight). Fold about one-third of egg whites into cake batter to lighten. Fold in remaining whites.
Spoon 2 cups of batter into each of the 8- or 9-inch cake pans; spread batter evenly. Divide remaining batter between the two 6-inch cake pans, spreading batter evenly.
Bake in 350 degree F oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted near centers comes out clean.
Cool cake layers in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes.
Remove cake layers from pans. Cool thoroughly on wire racks.

Prepare Fudge Frosting
Place one 8 - or 9-inch cake layer on serving plate. Spread top with about 3/4 cup of Fudge Frosting. Top with second 8 - or 9-inch cake layer. Spread top with about 3/4 cup more frosting. Top with remaining 8 - or 9 - inch cake layer. Spread top and sides of cake with about 1-1/2 cups of remaining frosting. Place one 6-inch cake layer in center of stacked cake. Spread top with about 1/2 cup of frosting.
Top with remaining 6-inch cake layer. Spread top and sides of 6-inch cakes with remaining frosting. Prepare Ganache. Spoon over top of cake, letting it drip down sides. Top with chocolate curls, if you like.

Happy Nine Year Blogiversary: Anniversary Chocolate Cake!

It's been nine years since I started blogging at DyingforChocolate.com. Over these past nine years I've had 3500+ posts: Chocolate Recipes, Reviews, and News. That's a post a day! Always something to say about chocolate!

You know I love Retro Ads, so here's a Baker's Chocolate Cake to Celebrate! OK. it's a 175th Anniversary Cake, but it works for me! "If I knew you were coming, I would've baked a cake!"

Thanks to all who have contributed and commented over these past nine years--and to all the chocoholics out there.

Happy Ninth Blogiversary to DyingforChocolate.com

Peppermint Chocolate Cake: Happy Anniversary!

Today is my Anniversary, and this Peppermint Chocolate Cake is divine! How fun that the Retro Baker's Chocolate Ad is is all about Janet! Well, yes, it's all about me!

I love these Baker's Chocolate Ads that tell a story. The reality, though, is that they're pretty sexist. This ad dates from 1938, but the recipe is still great. FYI: I wasn't around in 1938.

Happy Anniversary, Mom! Peppermint Cake Vintage Ad

Today would have been been my mother and dad's anniversary. She and my Dad were married for over 60 years, and they had a wonderful life together. My father passed away a few years ago, but during their marriage their love grew in spite of the long separation during WWII, personal tragedies, career changes and so much more. They always had the support of their extended families and the love of their children. So here's a cake for you, Mom! Happy Anniversary.

If this Vintage Baker's Cake Ad looks familiar, it's because I've posted it before (recipe here). The original ad (see below) is part of a Baker's "Chocolate Peppermint Cake Rang Wedding Bells for Janet" vintage ad. I think that's just perfect for today since it combines Wedding, Janet (me--although I came much later)... it tells us story. Gotta love these Baker Ads. Photo below is of my parents.