Basic Chocolate Cake

Basic Chocolate Cake
MAKES ONE 10-INCH TUBE CAKE

A touch of baking soda gives chocolate cake a reddish tint and a rich, chocolatey flavor.

2 cups sifted cake flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
l/2 teaspoon baking soda
1A teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, separated
3 squares (3 ounces) unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
11A cups milk
Chocolate Cream Frosting

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease and dust with flour a
10-inch tube pan.
Combine the flour with the baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In the large bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter until light, and
gradualy add the sugar; continue beating until mixture is smooth. Beat
in the egg yolks, chocolate, and vanilla. With rubber spatula, fold in
the flour mixture along with the milk, until blended. In another bowl,
beat the egg whites until stiff, and quickly fold into the batter with the
rubber spatula. Pour mixture into the prepared pan and bake 55
minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Remove cake from
oven and cool on a wire rack 10 minutes before removing from the
pan. Cool and frost with Chocolate Cream Frosting.