F.B.I. Cake
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. double acting baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 lb. of butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups of granulated sugar
4 eggs separated (large or X-large)
1 1/4 cups milk (buttermilk is okay too)
Tbs.Espresso Powder
Sift the dry ingredients and set aside. Cream the butter. Add vanilla and sugar gradually. Add the yolks. Add the dry ingredients in thirds and the milk in two portions. (start with dry and end with dry) Beat the egg whites and fold into batter. Spray two 9" round pans with Baker's Joy or else just grease and flour the pans. Divide the batter between the two pans and bake in preheated oven at 325 degrees for 45-50 minutes. (start testing with a tooth pick at about 35 min.) I frost this cake with sweetened whipped cream, but your favorite chocolate frosting would be great too. One time I put Nutella between the layers and then frosted with whipped cream and it was yummy.
Note:
This is originally a Maida Heatter recipe. Her story is that she had Herbert Hoover over for dinner. He raved about her chocolate cake and thereafter she called it F.B.I. cake. It is Brian and Ross' favorite birthday cake. We got the recipe from Kathy McCormick, Nate's Mom. She made it for Brian to thank him for plowing her driveway.
In 2006 when I made this cake for Ross' birthday I realized that I do a few things that I didn't mention in the recipe. I used 2% milk and soured it with 2 TBS. of vinegar and let it curdle while I was measuring out the other ingredients. I also have started adding 1 TBS. of espresso powder with the cocoa.