This recipe is for baking at sea level. However, you will notice specifics related to baking at high altitude. For instructions on baking at 3,000, 5,000, 7,000, and 10,000 feet, see note.
An American classic, devil's food cake has a moist, tender crumb and satisfying chocolate flavor. The characteristically red (devil) brown color of the cake comes from the baking soda, an alkali that reddens chocolate as it neutralizes some of its acidity and leavens the cake. This recipe is specifically developed for use with natural, not Dutch-process, cocoa. Because cocoa packs and clumps in its container, you will get the most accurate measurement if you first sift it onto wax paper, then spoon it into the measuring cup and level it off.
You can bake this cake as two layers, fill it with your favorite fruit preserves (try black cherry or raspberry), and frost it with the Mocha Buttercream Icing. Or bake it in a tube pan and top it with any icing or just a light sifting of cocoa or confectioners' sugar (like snow on mountaintops!).
Ingredients
Makes one 2-layer 8-inch cake; serves 8; or one 9-inch tube cake; serves 8 to 10
Cake:
Mocha buttercream icing:
Special Equipment
Pan preparation:
Step 1
Generously coat the pan(s) with solid shortening, line with baking parchment or wax paper (for a tube or Bundt pan, cut a paper or foil ring), grease the liner, and dust with sifted cocoa; tap out the excess cocoa.
Make cake:
Step 2
Position rack in center of oven. Preheat oven to 350°F.
Step 3
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and cocoa. Set aside.
Step 4
In the large bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar for 3 to 4 minutes, until very well blended. Scrape down the bowl and beater. Beat in the vanilla and eggs and scrape down the bowl and beater again.
Step 5
With the mixer on the lowest speed, alternately add the flour mixture and the buttermilk. Once the ingredients are blended together, increase the speed and whip for about 30 seconds (no longer, because at high altitudes you don't want to incorporate excess air).
Step 6
Divide the batter between the two pans or scrape it all into the tube pan. Bake 30 minutes for layers, 38 to 40 minutes for tube cake (or for the time indicated for your altitude in the chart), or until the cake top feels springy to the touch and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan(s) on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 7
Run a knife between the layers and the pan sides to release them, or run the tip of a knife around the pan sides and the top of the tube to loosen the cake. Top each layer, or the tube pan, with a foil-covered cardboard cake disk or flat plate, invert, and give a sharp downward shake to release the cake. Remove the pan and peel off the parchment. Cool completely.
Make icing:
Step 8
In a food processor or the large bowl of an electric mixer, preferably with the paddle attachment, process or beat the butter until soft. Add 2 cups of the sifted sugar and beat until smooth. Scrape down the bowl and blade or beaters. Add the remaining 4 cups sugar, plus cocoa, 5 tablespoons coffee, and vanilla, and process or beat until completely smooth and creamy. Add more sugar or coffee if necessary to bring the icing to spreading consistency. (The icing can be made a day in advance and refrigerated, covered; bring to room temperature and beat until smooth before using.)
Step 9
Fill the layers and frost with the buttercream, or dust the tube cake lightly with cocoa or confectioners' sugar (or frost as desired).
Cooks' Note
Step 10
Quantities for the icing remain the same at all altitudes, but if you are baking the cake at high elevation, follow the adjustments below.
If baking at 3,000 feet:
Step 11
Increase flour to 2¼ cups plus 1 tablespoon.
Decrease baking soda to 1⅛ teaspoons.
Increase salt to ½ teaspoon.
All other quantities remain as above.
Place rack in center of oven; bake at 375°F: layers for 30–35 minutes, tube cake for 30–32 minutes.If baking at 5,000 feet:
Step 12
Increase flour to 2⅓ cups.
Decrease baking soda to 1 teaspoon.
Increase salt to ½ teaspoon.
Decrease granulated sugar to 1½ cups minus 1 tablespoon.
Increase buttermilk to 1½ cups plus 3 tablespoons.
All other quantities remain as above.
Place rack in center of oven; bake at 375°F: layers for 30–35 minutes, tube cake for 35–40 minutes.If baking at 7,000 feet:
Step 13
Increase flour to 2⅓ cups.
Decrease baking soda to 1 teaspoon.
Increase salt to ½ teaspoon.
Decrease granulated sugar to 1½ cups minus 2 tablespoons.
Increase buttermilk to 1¾ cups.
All other quantities remain as above.
Place rack in lower third of oven; bake at 350°F: layers for 30–35 minutes, tube cake for 35–40 minutes.If baking at 10,000 feet:
Step 14
Increase flour to 2½ cups minus 1 tablespoon.
Decrease baking soda to ¾ teaspoon.
Increase salt to ½ teaspoon.
Decrease granulated sugar to 1½ cups minus 2 tablespoon.
Add one additional egg.
Increase buttermilk to 1½ cups plus 3 tablespoons.
All other quantities remain as above.
Rack in lower third of oven; bake at 350°F: layers for 30–33 minutes, tube cake for 40–43 minutes.
How would you rate Daredevil's Food Cake With Mocha Buttercream Icing?
Leave a Review
Reviews (14)
Back to TopBaked mine at 5280 and enjoyed it at 10,000 feet. Did not do the buttercream- baked in a tube pan. Received good reviews from the eaters.
keolakai
Denver
7/14/2013
I turned to this icing recipe after I had totally ruined a more involved butter cream one. I cut the sugar to 3 cups and used a whole stick of butter and probably 3 tbl of coffee. It made enough to ice a 2 layer cake and everyone raved about it. It was still sweet but not overwhelmingly so. Plus it was sooo much easier than the initial butter cream recipe I attempted. I will definitely use this again.
cgroobey
Annapolis, MD
12/26/2011
I WISH I had read the last review before I used the buttercream recipe -- horrible! Super sweet and a weak, pocky texture. Just say no!
jannabelle66
Chicago
6/25/2011
2 stars for the icing. Ick. Way, way too sweet. Even the kids say too sweet. It tastes like you are licking the powdered sugar right out of the bag. I am disappointed!
Phaselow
Milwaukee, WI
3/23/2011
Rating is for the buttercream icing only. It's quite good, but like other reviewers said -- too much sugar! I made it with half the sugar, and half the coffee, and a little Kahlua added. Fantastic! Coverage is a little skimpy for a 2-layer cake with removing all that sugar. I used it for a full angel food cake and would add a little more for a 2-layer.
Anonymous
Santa Monica, CA
1/28/2010
I am a sugar junkie, and thus ignored the previous reviews. Foolish me. Trust me, people: this is TOO MUCH sugar, no matter how much you love the stuff.
Anonymous
denver co
1/12/2010
Buttercream icing? More like sugar icing. Way to sweet, and I only used 4 cups of sugar. next time will add some milk and and extra stick of butter.
ps2001
Cuyahoga Falls,Ohio
10/2/2009
I made this exactly as written and in my opinion--it was dry. The frosting was the only redeeming quality (moisture-wise). Next time I will add 1 cup buttermilk and 1/2 cup canola oil. Deliscious flavor though, and no leftovers at work.
diva4559
Santa Rosa, CA
9/9/2009
The cake is decent. I found it to be slightly dry and crumbly which wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, but still good. The icing recipe barely works. I added a bunch more butter and then some cream to get a passable icing - I would not make the icing again and would recommend using a different recipe all together.
flyman683
Jersey City, NJ
6/3/2008
It sounds gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood
Anonymous
Dublin, Ireland
4/5/2008
It sounds gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood
Anonymous
dublin,Ireland
4/5/2008
The cake is not dry, but is crumbly. It doesn't have a tremendous chocolate taste. The buttercream is much too sweet and too thick, even after adding all the coffee. I wouldn't make it again.
Anonymous
new jersey
2/3/2008
I found the cake to be moist and quite delicious. Doubled the ingredients because I have a family that loves cake and one day later, one of the cakes is finished :- )
Anonymous
Kenya
1/10/2008
My brother and I decided that this cake would be great for my mother's birthday. However, we had to alter this recipe just a tad. The cake turned out amazingly fluffy. It felt like a pillow when it came out of the oven. However, the icing was a bit different. We were surprised at how much sugar it required therefore we made the recipe have 4 cups of sugar, rather than 6. In addition, we added 1/3 cup of milk to the icing to make it thick. There was an uneven amount of dry and wet ingredients. With those minimal alterations we came out with a beautiful and tasty cake. :)
MonicaFin
Los Angeles, CA
11/25/2007
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