Cake Ingredients:
1 cup cocoa powder, sifted, plus more for dusting pan
7 1/2 oz. semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup boiling water
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
20 Tbsp. (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
5 eggs, lightly beaten
4 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Cake Instructions:
Have all the ingredients at room temperature.
Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F.
Grease Bundt Cake Pan and dust with cocoa powder; tap out the excess.
In a bowl, combine the 1 cup cocoa powder and the chocolate.
Add the boiling water and whisk until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth and blended.
Set aside.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.
Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 30 to 45 seconds. Reduce the speed to low, add the brown sugar and beat until blended. Increase the speed to medium and continue beating until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Add the eggs a little at a time, beating until incorporated before adding more and stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Beat in the vanilla until incorporated, about 1 minute.
Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the sour cream and beginning and ending with the flour, beating just until blended and no lumps of flour remain.
Slowly pour in the chocolate-cocoa mixture and beat until no white streaks are visible, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the chocolate chips.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading the batter so the sides are about higher than the center.
Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out somewhat clean, 60 to 65 minutes.
Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the cake cool upright in the pan for 15 minutes. Invert the pan onto the rack and lift off the pan. Let the cake cool completely, at least 1 hour.
Return the cooled cake to the pan. Using a serrated knife, gently saw off any excess cake that extends over the edge of the pan.
Set the wire rack on a parchment paper lines baking sheet. Invert the pan onto the rack and lift off the pan.
Icing Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks or 1/2 pound), softened (but not melted!)
3 1/2 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract or 1 generous teaspoon of almond extract
4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
Icing Instructions:
Cream butter for a few minutes in a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed.
Turn off the mixer.
Sift 3 cups powdered sugar and cocoa into the mixing bowl.
Turn your mixer on the lowest speed (so the dry ingredients do not blow everywhere) until the sugar and cocoa are absorbed by the butter. Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla (or almond) extract, salt, and milk (or cream) and beat for 3 minutes.
If your frosting needs a stiffer consistency, add a little more sugar.
If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add additional milk, 1 tbsp at a time.
