Categories: Cakes

Ingredients

• Parchment paper
• 2 (4 oz.) pkg. sweet chocolate baking bars
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk
• Coconut-Pecan Frosting
• Garnish: chocolate-dipped roasted pecan halves

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 3 (9-inch) round cake pans: line bottoms with parchment paper, and lightly grease paper.
2. Microwave chocolate baking bars and 1/2 cup water in a large microwave-safe bowl at high for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until chocolate is melted and smooth, stirring once halfway through.
3. Combine flour and next 2 ingredients in a medium bowl.
4. Beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Stir in chocolate mixture

5. and vanilla. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition.

6. Beat egg whites at high speed until stiff peaks form: gently fold into batter. Pour batter into prepared pans.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven, and gently run a knife around outer edge of cake layers to loosen from sides of pans. Cool in pans on wire racks 15 minutes. Remove from pans 15 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks; discard parchment paper. Cool completely (about 1 hour). Spread Coconut-Pecan Frosting between layers an on top and sides of cake.

8. Garnish, if desired.

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