Homemade cake can be so easy.
This one only requires a bowl and an oven!
I love this cake so much I could scream! I also loved it so much I had to put half of it in the freezer in fear I'd forget to take care of my own children as my whole mind, body and spirit was consumed by it's dark, rich, cocoa flavor.
I've never been one to be addicted to something. I love an occasional drink, but I don't need it. I never dabbled in anything stronger than alcohol. I never had an afflication with video games or gambling.
But this cake my friends, was soon becoming an addiction.
Do they have a Cake Eater's Annonymous club?
So imagine the horror when the husband started pulling that darn leftover cake out of the freezer for THREE NIGHTS IN A ROW after dinner.
I turned away. I pretended to ignore seeing the pleasure on his face while taking bite after bite. I left the room when the kids started joining in on the fun.
It was awful. It was like being a kid stuck in a candy store, yet not being able to sample anything. I wanted to tell myself, "just one bite" but I knew better. I've never met a cake that could grab you by the lips and suck you in as much as this one did.
The whole point of making this deliciously evil cake was because it was the husband's birthday weekend. He got his requested cheesecake but had to share with friends, so like a sucker I felt sorry for him and made him MORE dessert on his actual birthday.
I'm so nice.
I'm so nice I made myself suffer.
Prehaps what makes this cake so good is that it requres limited ingredients, one bowl and the oven. My five year old and my two year old even helped! I handled the frosting, but the cake was all their doing.
Its richness comes from the sour cream, I have no doubt. It has deep flavor, is incredibly moist and will stay fresh on the counter for 3 days. I have proof. After three days it was still so damn good that I {as you know} threw it in the freezer.
The next time you have a birthday celebration in your house dig up this recipe! If they like chocolate that is...this will become their new favorite.
And don't forget the frosting. It's makes it.
One Bowl Sour Cream Chocolate Birthday Cake
2 c. flour
2 c. sugar
3/4 c. cocoa powder
1 t. baking powder
2 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
2 eggs
2/3 c. sour cream
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 t. vanilla
1 c. hot water
Frosting:
1 stick unsalted butter
4 T. cocoa powder
6 T. milk
1 t. vanilla
4 c. powdered sugar
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 cake pan with cooking spray.
2. Using a large mixing bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. Add in the eggs, sour cream, milk, oil, vanilla and hot water. Using a spatula stir to combine into a thin batter.
4. Bake for 40-43 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely before adding the frosting.
5. To make the frosting melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in milk, vanilla and cocoa powder. Take off the heat and whisk in the powdered sugar. Continue to stir until smooth. The frosting will be thick. Spread over the cooled cake.
6. The cake will stay fresh covered on the counter, but can also be kept in the fridge.
Want other birthday cake inspiration? We love every single one on this list!
