Old World Strawberry Chocolate Cake

Old World Strawberry Chocolate Cake
By: Jo-Anne Clark Brown

1 ½ cups sifted cake flour
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
1/3 cup cocoa, sifted
1 Tablespoon instant coffee powder (optional)
1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2/3 cup butter
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
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2 Tablespoons sugar
1 quart fresh strawberries, halved
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Chocolate Glaze:
3 squares semisweet chocolate
3 Tablespoons water
1 teaspoon instant coffee powder (optional)
1 Tablespoon gutter
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
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2 cups sweetened whipped cream or whipped topping such as cool whip
Whole strawberries for garnish

Lightly oil two 8-inch round cake pans. In the bowl of an electric mixer combine flour, 1 ½ cups sugar, cocoa, instant coffee powder (optional), baking soda, and salt. Add the butter, 2/3 of the buttermilk, and the vanilla. Beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Add the remaining buttermilk and eggs. Beat 2 minutes more. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Cool the layers on a wire rack.

In a large bowl sprinkle 2 Tablespoons sugar over the strawberries.

In a heavy saucepan melt the chocolate with the water, coffee powder (optional), and butter over low heat. Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the sugar. Add a little hot water if necessary to make a medium thin glaze.

Place one cake layer on a serving platter, and cover with half of the strawberries. Drizzle with half the glaze and top with half the whipped cream. Repeat with second layer. Garnish with whole strawberries.

Serves 8-10.