COOKED VANILLA FROSTING (AND MY FAVORITE CHOCOLATE CAKE) RECIPE - (4.3/5)

Steps:

• For the cake: Prepare 2 9-inch cake pans (I always line mine with parchment paper and then use a non-stick baking spray with flour. Preheat the oven to 350F. Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, & salt in a large bowl or in bowl of stand mixer. Add eggs, coffee, buttermilk, oil, & vanilla. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. (Batter will be thin.) Divide evenly into cake pans (this cake makes a great sheet cake or cupcakes). Bake for 20 minutes (for cupcakes) or 27 minutes (approx) for a baking pan at 350°F or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely and frost. FOR THE FROSTING: Whisk together in a saucepan the flour and milk. Cook over medium heat until starting to thicken and cook for a minute or two more-- don't let it get too thick or it will be too stiff when it cools. (The roux has to boil for a little bit for the flour to cook and lose its starchy flavor.) Pour into a wide bowl and allow to cool, stirring now and again. If the roux is lumpy when it cools, just press it through a fine sieve. Beat together a cup of unsalted butter and a cup of granulated sugar until light (you really need an electric hand mixer or stand mixer for this). Beat in the cooled roux about two tablespoons at a time. As you beat and add the roux, the frosting turns creamy (6-8 minutes) instead of grainy from the sugar -- almost like "magic"! Add 1-2 tsp vanilla and beat some more until it's light and creamy. TIP: Don't chill the roux in the fridge or it will be too hard to beat stuff into.