10 servings

Hands on: 20 minutes

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Total time: 1 hour

Looking for an easy dessert that will fool everyone into thinking you baked all day? This simple-to-prepare cake is it. And it's sophisticated, especially when glazed with Glossy Chocolate Glaze. We garnished ours with sugar-iced rose petals.

3/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter (softened)

1 cup granulated sugar

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour (or spray with baking spray) an 8-inch cake pan.

Sift together the cocoa, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla and blend well.

Add 1/2 the dry mixture on low speed, then the sour cream, then the remaining dry mixture. Blend well, scraping the sides of the bowl.

Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until the center of the cake is firm (it won't spring back). Do not overbake.

Remove from the oven and cool on a rack for 5 to 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely. Glaze with Glossy Chocolate Glaze.

Per serving : 602 calories (percent of calories from fat, 65), 7 grams protein, 49 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 45 grams fat (27 grams saturated), 135 milligrams cholesterol, 194 milligrams sodium.