Let them eat cake! Old-Fashioned Chocolate Layer Cake, to be specific.

Sunday was The Mister's birthday, and I knew exactly what cake I'd be making for him: Old-Fashioned Chocolate Layer Cake with Old-Fashioned Chocolate Frosting from Cook's Illusrated by way of Our Best Bites. I'd bookmarked the link months ago, but have never had an occasion to make it, and for me, it's not safe to make such a cake without a specific reason in mind, because I will eat the entire thing, one forkful at a time. Have to even up those jagged edges, right?

I was a bit apprehensive about making a from-scratch cake because I live at high altitude. Denver is famous for being the Mile High City, but at my house, we're actually a bit higher at around 5400 ft. I grew up in Salt Lake City which is also considered high altitude (although it's about 1000 ft. lower), so with the exception of the two years I lived in Savannah, I've always had to use the high altitude instructions on boxed cake mixes. The few times I've attempted scratch cakes have all ended in a baked good that looks like someone knelt on it. I know there are ways to fiddle with recipes (adding flour, adding liquid, reducing leavening) to combat the effects of altitude, but I'm to impatient to waste my time & ingredients on potential flops, so I've always stuck to boxed mixes.

I started baking early Sunday morning. That way, if this cake went the same sad, indented way as the others, I'd still have time to throw something together after church (we had a 5:00 pm dinner party to attend). I reduced the baking soda by 1/2 tsp. and although the cake still fell a tiny bit, it was nothing that wasn't hidden when I flipped the layers and frosted them. If I were to make it again, I'd try adding 1/4 c. of flour and I think that might just do the trick. I didn't have to make any adjustments to the frosting, and it was delish!

I even added one of those cute little pennant banners that have popped up all over blogland, in my favorite color combination of red & turquoise I'm so pleased with how the cake turned out and everyone at the party was most complimentary, so I'd say it was a success!