Blackout Cake

In honor of Captain Bob's 91st Birthday, we'd like to share one of our most indulgent recipes...The Blackout Cake! 

FROSTING INGREDIENTS

1½ cups sugar

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon honey

2 tablespoons butter 

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

 

FROSTING DIRECTIONS

1. Sift together the sugar and cocoa powder and set aside.

2. In a saucepan over medium heat, mix the heavy cream with the honey, butter and vanilla. Add the sugar and cocoa and stir the mixture with a whisk for 8 to 10 minutes until completely smooth. Do not allow to boil.

3. Remove from heat. Cover and cool the frosting for an hour in the refrigerator. Before using, whip with hand-held mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. 

 

CAKE INGREDIENTS

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

3 cups cake flour

¾ cup canola oil

2 tablespoons white vinegar

2 cups cold water

confectioners' sugar for dusting finished cake

 

CAKE DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare two 9-inch round cake pans (at least 2½ inches deep) with butter, oil or parchment paper (whichever you prefer). We prefer to oil the pans and add parchment paper circles to the bottom.

2. Sift together dry ingredients and place in large bowl. Mix all wet ingredients together and pour into the dry. Combine with a whisk or mixer until batter is smooth.

3. Pour into two prepared baking pans and bake for approximately 20 minutes.

4. Cool completely on a rack. Trim the cakes to stand about 1½ inches tall. Cut trimmed-off tops into ½ to 1-inch cubes and set aside. To frost, place one layer on a plate and spread ⅓ of the frosting on it. Top with second layer and spread remaining frosting on top and sides. Press the cake cubes all over the top and sides, into the frosting. Distribute as evenly as possible. You now have a "bumpy" cake. 

5. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve. 

 

SERVES 8 TO 10

**SEP**

Interested in more recipes from our Black Dog Tavern?

Check out our 40th Anniversary Cookbook.

 

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1971 Fun Facts

We opened the doors to our Black Dog Tavern on January 1st, 1971. What other exciting things were happening in 1971? We did some digging and found these fun facts about that year!


1971 Random U.S Facts

🐾 Top single (Billboard year end top 100) Joy to the World – Three Dog Night🐾 Disney World opened; adult tickets were $3.50 🐾 Voting age was lowered to 18 🐾 Gas $0.40/gallon 🐾 Average income a year was $10,600 🐾 A United States postage stamp was 8 cents 🐾 Federal Express (FedEx) was founded by Fred Smith 🐾 The first ever email was sent! Ray Tomlinson sent a message from on Digital Equipment Corporation computer to another Digital Equipment Corporation computer.

 

1971 Vineyard Facts

🐾 Martha's Vineyard population is 6,117 🐾 Fishing shacks and working waterfront of Menemsha are preserved. 🐾 The one true vineyard. Chicama Vineyards, opens 🐾 Broadway star and MV resident Katharine Cornell films “This is Our Island”

 

1971 Dog Facts

🐾 117 dog breeds were recognized by the AKC 🐾 The poodle was the most popular dog in 1971, and was for 22 years 🐾 Dog ownerships have tripled since 1970s 🐾 Dog food was around 20 cents a bag!🐾 David Leavitt set out to create an English Bulldog that was less intense, more nimble and healthier. Crossing the Bulldog, American Pit Bull Terrier, Bullmastiff and the American Bulldog, Mr. leavitt managed to create today's Olde English Bulldogge.