Makes a 3-layer 9-inch cake Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter and flour three 9-inch round cake pans. Combine the cocoa with 2 cups of boiling water, stirring until smooth. Cool completely. Sift together the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients alternately with the cocoa mixture to the creamed mixture. Do not overmix. Blend just enough to moisten the dry ingredients. Pour the batter into the cake pans. Bake for 24-30 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes and then remove the cake from the pans to cool completely before frosting. While the cake is cooling, prepare the frosting. In a medium saucepan, melt the chocolate and butter. Stir in the cream until smooth. Remove the pan from the stove and place it in a large bowl filled with ice. Using a whisk or electric mixer, beat in the powdered sugar until the frosting holds a stiff shape. Chill. Whip all the filling ingredients together until stiff. Chill. Construct the cake when all the parts are cool. Spread the filling between the layers and the frosting on the top and sides. Plan to serve the cake soon after completion or provide a large space in the refrigerator to keep it cool until it is served.

Recipe from New Recipes From Moosewood Restaurant, by The Moosewood Collective © 1987, used with permission of Ten Speed Press; CompuCook's Recipe Collection.