Chocolate Birthday Cake

This past weekend my sister flew to Colorado to celebrate her 27th birthday with us! My mom was even able to fly in for the week for a much needed visit. I had asked my sister what kind of birthday cake she would like and she said 'chocolate!' I am a huge fan of Pioneer Woman and she has this amazing recipe for a Big Chocolate Birthday Cake. Well I halved the recipe so we wouldn't be stuck with so much cake - and it turned out to be incredible! Totally worth making a birthday cake from scratch when it comes out as good as this did. I even found a free printable for a 'cake banner' on Pinterest that I put together to decorate the top of the cake.

We also headed out to a concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater to see Grace Potter and the Nocturnals as a gift to my sister. What an amazing venue and good rocker chick concert!

Chocolate Cake by Pioneer Woman (recipe is halved to make 2 x round cakes)

- 2 sticks of butter, unsalted
- 4 tbsp. cocoa
- 2 cups flour (plus 2 tbsp. at high altitude)
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2 eggs, beaten

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease two round cake pans.
2. Melt your butter and cocoa in a small saucepan on low heat. Add your boiling water.
3. Mix your flour, salt, and sugar in a separate bowl. Pour the butter/cocoa mix on top and combine.
4. In another bowl, mix the buttermilk, baking soda, vanilla and eggs together. Stir into the flour mixture.
5. Pour half of the mixture into a cake pan and the other half into the other pan. Bake for 20 minutes.

Frosting:
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 12 oz. chocolate chips
- 1 tsp. vanilla

1. In a saucepan, heat your cream until hot.
2. Place your chocolate chips into your Kitchenaide mixing bowl. Pour the heated cream over your chocolate chips. Whisk together until chocolate is melted.
3. Place the bowl into the fridge until completely cooled.
4. Add vanilla to your frosting and beat with your mixer until frosting is light and fluffy.
5. Frost your cake!

 Chocolate Cake with Banner

 "Happy Birthday!"

Wow... delicious.

Enjoy!

Brittney