Shelly's Recipe

DR PEPPER CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE

Category: Cakes

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar and packed dark brown sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup Dr Pepper, not Diet
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
8 tbsp butter, softened, cut up
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup canola oil
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Silky Chocolate Butter Frosting:
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
1 cup milk
1 cup butter. salted
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour 2 round 9 inch cake pans. Sift together the dry ingredients; stir in the salt. Set aside.

Heat the Dr Pepper in a small saucepan over medium. When it starts to bubble, reduce heat to low, add the chocolate chips and stir until melted. Turn off the heat and stir in the butter. Set aside to cool for about 8 to 10 minutes.

Beat the eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla for 2 minutes. At lowest speed, slowly add the Dr Pepper mixture and beat for 1 additional minute. Gradually add the dry ingredients and beat until smooth.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans, and bake for 30 to 38 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans for 15 minutes, then invert onto cooling racks, lift off pans and allow to cool completely before frosting. The frosting requires cooling time, so you may want to get started on that right away.

Prepare frosting. In 2 quart saucepan, stir together sugar, flour and cocoa until evenly combined. Add milk and stir until smooth, do not worry if there are a few lumps because they will smooth out as you cook. Turn heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils. Reduce heat to low, cook 2 minutes, stirring all the while. Remove saucepan from heat; cool completely. This should take 40 minutes to an hour. You can let it cool while the cake cools if you want.

In large bowl, beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually beat in cooled milk mixture, vanilla and melted chocolate. Frost the cake.