Description
A whimsical chocolate cake with polka dot centers of buttery vanilla batter, perfect for parties and celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- A pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder (optional)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- Milk (as needed for frosting)
- White chocolate chips (for polka dots)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare two 8-inch round cake pans with grease and flour.
- Whisk together 1 cup of flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, a pinch of salt, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup melted butter with 1 egg and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until smooth.
- Transfer the vanilla batter to a piping bag.
- Sift 1 3/4 cups flour, 2/3 cup cocoa powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda together.
- Cream 1 cup butter with 1 1/2 cups sugar until light, then add 3 eggs one at a time and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
- Alternate adding the dry ingredients and 1 cup buttermilk, ending with dry ingredients.
- Stir in espresso powder and a pinch of salt.
- Spread chocolate batter in prepared pans and pipe small rounds of vanilla batter over it.
- Cover with more chocolate batter and bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool for 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack.
- Make frosting by whipping 1 cup butter with 3 cups powdered sugar and 1/2 cup cocoa powder, adding milk as needed.
- Frost the cooled cake and serve.
Notes
Chill the vanilla batter briefly for better shaping; consider using high-quality cocoa for richer flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: chocolate cake, party cake, dessert, whimsical cake, polka dot cake
