Chocolate Cake…2016 Milk Calendar…YUM!

Did you receive a 2016 Milk Calendar in the mail this year?

First launched in Ontario in 1974, the Milk Calendar has been showing up in mailboxes across the country showcasing amazing recipes – everything from main dishes to desserts – and featuring some fantastic food celebrities from around Canada.

When the calendar first came out this year, I was asked by Dairy Farmers of Canada if I’d like to recreate my birthday month recipe and, after I explained to them I wasn’t the best cook and they explained that their recipes were super easy (as in, made in under 45 minutes)…I agreed.

Until I found out that my Birthday Month recipe was something called “Green Goodness Smoothie Bowl” and I begged them to reconsider and let me bake a cake!

Turns out, there’s a cake in the calendar as well so yesterday, in celebration of Spiderman’s Pre-Cal mark currently sitting at a 51…I BAKED A CAKE!

From SCRATCH!

AND IT WAS EASY!!!

And YES…I celebrated a 51 because of all of the extra help and tutors and stress and sleepless nights!

So, in case you have something amazing to celebrate as well…here’s how to make the Deep Dark Chocolate Cake from the 2016 Milk Calendar!

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Deep Dark Chocolate Cake

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk or soured Milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp (5 mL) instant coffee granules
2 cups (500 mL) all-purpose flour
1 cup (250 mL) cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp (7 mL) baking soda
3/4 tsp (4 mL) salt

Frosting
1 cup softened butter
1/2 cup 35 % whipping cream
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract
1 cup (250 mL) cocoa powder
4 cups (1 L) icing sugar

For the Cake: Preheat oven to 350 °F (180 °C). Line the bottoms of two buttered 9-inch (23 cm) round cake pans with parchment paper. (Or, if you don’t own parchment paper like me, butter the bottom and sides of the pan and coat with flour!)

Beat butter in a large bowl until creamy. Beat in brown sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well between additions. Beat in vanilla extract and coffee granules.

Blend flour with cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the buttermilk in three additions, scraping down the sides of the bowl each time. Divide batter between the pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until cakes pull away from the edge of the pan and spring back when lightly touched. Turn out onto a rack and cool.

For the Frosting: Beat butter until creamy. Blend in whipping cream and vanilla extract and beat until very smooth. Add cocoa and icing sugar a little at a time, stirring well between additions. Beat on high-speed for 45 seconds. Place one layer on a cake plate and frost. Crown with the second layer and frost.

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As for the cake…there’s a TON of Frosting which is EXACTLY the way I like it (for both frosting and for the deliciousness after!) It tastes FANTASTIC and paired with a Big Glass of Milk (drank from my Nanny’s rainbow glasses that she gave to me one year when I was visiting)…it’s absolutely delicious!

If you didn’t receive a copy of the 2016 Milk Calendar in your mailbox this year and would like one…or would like a digital copy of any of the recipes…visit www.MilkCalendar.ca where you’ll find lots of recipes and videos. Also, follow Facebook and Twitter for recipe ideas.

Oh…and by the way, if you’re interested in learning how to make the Green Goodness Smoothie Bowl…check out this video!

About: Dairy Farmers of Canada:
Founded in 1934, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is the national organization defending the interest of Canadian dairy farmers and striving to create favourable conditions for the Canadian dairy industry. Working within supply management, DFC promotes safe, high quality, sustainable, and nutritious Canadian dairy products made from 100% Canadian milk through various marketing, nutrition, policy, and lobbying initiatives. Driven by a strong sense of community and pride, DFC and Canadian dairy farmers actively support a number of local and national initiatives. Visit dairyfarmers.ca for more information.

Disclaimer: I received all of the product required to make this cake! All opinions, as always, are my own.