Devil’s Food Cake was a favorite of President Chester Arthur’s during his Presidency (1881-1885).

The cake became popular in the Southern states in the late nineteenth century around 1900. Its popularity probably really took off when the first known recipe was published in Sarah Tyson Rorer’s cookbook Mrs. Rorer’s New Cook Book in 1902.

Devil’s Food Cake

Ingredients

1 Cup Unsalted Butter

1/2 Cup Whole Milk

1 Cup Water

3/4 Cup Cocoa Powder

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1 Cup Granulated Sugar

1 Cup Light Brown Sugar, firmly packed

1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Soda

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

1 teaspoon Salt

3/4 Cup Sour Cream

2 Large Eggs

2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two 8″ round cake pans by lining with parchment paper and spray with baking spray. Set the pans aside.

In a medium-sized saucepan, add the butter, milk, water and cocoa powder. Cook over medium-low heat and stir frequently until the butter is completely melted. Bring to a medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil – make sure to stir constantly! Once boiling,
remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool for 15 minutes. During this time, start making the dry ingredients.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Whisk the chocolate mixture once more to combine and pour the mixture into the flour mixture. Stir really well until smooth.

Add in the sour cream and stir well until combined.

Add the eggs and vanilla extract and stir well until the cake batter is smooth.

Divide the batter and pour evenly into the prepared baking pans.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove the cakes from the oven and allow them to rest in the pans to cool for at least ten minutes before carefully removing.

When removing the cakes from the pans, allow them to cool completely before frosting the cakes.

Some prefer chocolate frosting – I personally prefer a white buttercream frosting with this cake (my husband prefers peanut butter frosting!)

Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients

1 Cup Unsalted Butter, softened

4-5 Cups Confectioners Sugar

1/4 Cup Whole Milk

2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Pinch of salt (optional)

Directions

Add the ingredients into a medium sized mixing bowl. Use a hand held or stand alone mixer and mix on low speed until the frosting is of your preferred liking. If more milk is needed, add a little bit at a time.