Chocolate Sour Cream Cake

This is the cake that I always make Mom for her birthday! We like it with unsweetened whipped cream in between the layers. 

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE CAKE:

• 1 ¼ cup hot coffee (295 ml)
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (110 grams)
• 2 ½ cup all-purpose flour (330 grams)
• 1 ¼ teaspoon salt (5 grams)
• 2 ½ teaspoon baking soda (11 grams)
• 2 cups granulated sugar (400 grams)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 ¼ cups sour cream (282 grams)
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (267 ml)

FOR THE ICING:

• 15 ounces semi-sweet chocolate , chopped (425 grams)
• 1 ¼ teaspoon instant espresso , optional
• 2 cups sour cream , at room temperature (450 grams)
• ¼-½ cup light corn syrup (59-118 ml)
• ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS

• To make the cake, preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour two 8-inch or 9-inch cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper.
• In a bowl, whisk together the coffee and cocoa powder until no lumps remain. Set aside. In another bowl, sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda.
• In a large bowl, beat the sugar and eggs together until smooth and pale yellow in color. Stir in the sour cream, followed by the vegetable oil. Add the flour mixture all at once and stir until combined. Stir in the cocoa mixture and mix until smooth.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25-35 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove and place on a wire rack to cool completely.
• To make the icing, melt the chocolate and instant espresso (if using) in a bowl placed over a pan of simmering water. Remove from heat and let cool for about 10 minutes. In another bowl, combine the sour cream, vanilla extract, and corn syrup. Add the chocolate mixture and stir until smooth. Taste for flavor and add additional corn syrup a tablespoon at a time to reach the desired sweetness. ¼ cup was just the right amount for me. The icing will have a thin consistency. Refrigerating it for about 10-15 minutes will help it firm up a bit.
• To frost the cake, place one cake layer on a cake stand or plate and cover the top with about ⅔ cup of the icing. Place the other cake layer on top and frost the entire cake. Store the cake in the fridge until ready to serve, along with any leftovers.