Dear Abby Cake

🥘 Ingredients

• unsweetened baker's chocolate 3 oz
• butter ½ cup
• water 1 cup
• cake flour 2 cups
• baking soda 1 ¼ tsp
• salt 1 tsp
• eggs 2
• sour cream 1 cup
• sugar 2 cups
• vanilla extract 2 tsp
• egg whites 2
• sugar ¾ cup
• cream of tartar ½ tsp
• salt ½ tsp
• cold water 2 ½ tsp
• vanilla extract 1 tsp
• unsweetened chocolate 1 oz
• butter 1 tbsp

Cake

1. 1

   In the top of a double boiler , combine unsweetened baker's chocolate , butter , and water . Heat over simmering water until chocolate and butter are melted. Remove from heat and cool.
2. 2

   Sift cake flour , baking soda , and salt into a large bowl.
3. 3

   In a medium bowl, beat eggs with sour cream until blended. Beat in sugar and vanilla extract ; stir in the cooled chocolate mixture. Beat into the flour mixture, half at a time, just until smooth. Batter will be thin. Pour evenly into the prepared 8-inch round baking pans .
4. 4

   Bake for 45 minutes or until centers spring back when lightly pressed. Cool in pans on wire racks. Loosen around the edges with a knife and turn out onto racks.

Frosting

1. 1

   Combine egg whites , sugar , cream of tartar , salt , and cold water in the top of a large double boiler . Beat until blended. Place over simmering water and cook, beating constantly with an electric mixer, for 7 minutes until mixture stands in firm peaks. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract .
2. 2

   Put the cake layers together on a serving plate using about one quarter of the frosting. Spread the remainder on the sides and top, making deep swirls with a spatula.

Chocolate Drizzle

1. 1

   Melt unsweetened chocolate with butter in a cup set in hot water. Stir until smooth. Drizzle over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides.