Was this page helpful?
Help improve this recipe for others.
Send this recipe to your inbox.
We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.
Ingredients
Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Dry Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
Optional Frosting
Method
Preparation
- 1
Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- 2
Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- 3
- 4
Combine Mixtures
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- 5
Add Boiling Water
Carefully stir in the boiling water. The batter will be thin, but this is normal.
Baking
- 6
Pour Batter
Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans.
- 7
Bake
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- 8
Cool Cakes
Remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Then, turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Frosting (Optional)
- 9
Make Frosting
In a medium bowl, beat the softened butter with cocoa powder until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and milk, mixing until desired consistency is reached.
- 10
Add Vanilla
Stir in the vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
- 11
Frost Cake
Once the cakes are completely cool, spread the frosting evenly on top of one cake layer, place the second layer on top, and frost the top and sides of the cake.