Yesterday was my oldest daughter’s birthday. And while I tend to think that the only kind of birthday cake there is, is a double layer chocolate with thick chocolate icing, she had different ideas. She wanted an ice cream cake. So rather than spend money on a bought ice cream cake that tastes like not much of anything (I’ve done that before), I came up with this one. You’ll notice I still managed to get plenty of chocolate in, but the beauty of this is that you can use any flavour you like.
One thing to note, the recipe calls for …read more

This is the recipe I always use for birthday cakes.  Nothing fancy, but it always works, it is quick to make, and it is chocolate.  Enough said!
Cake Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup boiling water
3/4 cup butter at room temperature
1-1/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350F.  In a medium bowl, stir cocoa into boiling water until completely dissolved.  Let cool.  Add butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, baking soda, and salt.  Beat with electric mixer on low speed for one minute, then on high speed for three minutes.  Pour batter …read more