Sour Cream Dark Chocolate Cake

1 . Stage

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 3 9-inch round baking pans.

2 . Stage

Dissolve cocoa powder in boiling water in a bowl; set aside to cool completely.

3 . Stage

Beat white sugar and canola oil together in a bowl with an electric mixer until smooth; add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir vanilla extract into creamed mixture.

4 . Stage

Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a separate bowl. Mix flour mixture and sour cream alternately into creamed mixture. Beat cocoa mixture into batter until incorporated. Pour batter into the prepared baking pans.

5 . Stage

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in center of each cake comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack. Wrap cakes in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.

6 . Stage

Beat butter in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth; scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Mix confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, into creamed butter until sugar is incorporated. Add salt and beat on medium-high until frosting is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

7 . Stage

Place one cake on a serving plate; spread 1/4 the frosting on top of cake. Place second cake on frosting layer; spread 1/4 the frosting on second cake. Place third cake atop second cake. Spread remaining frosting on top cake and around sides of entire layer cake.