dump truck chocolate layer cake

A short while ago, we celebrated my son's second birthday. And he loves his trucks. I even made him a truck costume for halloween.

I thought about making a large cake and putting trucks on top and doing a whole construction scene but I like things easy and simple. And this seemed like the perfect solution. Just crush some chocolate cookies and stick them to the icing, giving the appearance of gravel and dirt. I also made cupcakes with the extra batter and icing.

This cake is great. It's fluffy and moist. It got rave reviews from all the parents. The icing also complements the cake perfectly. Not too sweet but it's very rich. I love this Canadian Living Cookbook, it has so many good recipes.

(Sorry, no pictures of any slices. They went fast!).

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chocolate layer cakemakes 12 servings

1 cup butter, softened
1.5 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp each baking soda & baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1.5 cups buttermilk

Chocolate icing:1.5 cups butter
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 Tbsp vanilla
3 cups icing sugar
6 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped, melted and cooled.

In large bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time: beat in vanilla. In separate bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in butter misture alternately with buttermilk, making 3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 of buttermilk.

Spoon into prepared pans. Either 2 greased springforms pans or 2 round metal cake pans prepared with parchment or waxed paper.

Bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes. Cool on racks for 20 minutes. Remove and let cool completely on rack.

Cut cake horizontally into 2 layers.

Chocolate Icing:
Beat butter until fluffy, gradually beat in cream. Beat in vanilla. Beat in icing sugar, 1 cup at a time. Beat in melted chocolate until fluffy and smooth.

Recipe from: Chocolate layer Cake, The Complete Canadian Living Cookbook.