Chocolate Cake for a special boy!

This week marks the 10th birthday for a big beautiful boy, Dartagnan.  Friend, running partner, babysitter and guard all rolled up into 100 lbs of golden fur.  He’s loveable and smooshy and wonderful and above all he makes our family complete!

Dartagnan was our wedding present from his sister, Catherine.  I got an email with a picture attached at 48hrs old asking if we wanted Dartagnan as a rescue puppy.  I knew I was being set up because who would name a dog the name I had chosen when I finally got to have my own dog.  At the end of the email she wished us a happy wedding prezzie.  I’m not sure what I was more excited about, the wedding or the new puppy. (maybe I was but don’t tell Rob, I mean look at that face)

We got to see him at 4 weeks and then he was delivered by Catherine on July 1st weekend.  For the next ten years he became the best dog anyone could ever want.

Now he’s a big brother to Remy who is 9 months old and I honestly think Remy’s temperament comes from Dartagnan.  He’s still hyper as he’s still a puppy but we love him too!

So for Dartagnan’s birthday I baked a cake.  I know he can’t have any but what a better way to celebrate than with the best chocolate cake on the planet.  I used the Barefoot Contessa’s Beatty Chocolate cake and oh my, delish!

I wanted to make it fun, so I kind of used Melissa at MyCakeSchool.com’s idea of using chocolate melt flowers.  Here’s my take!

The cake is from The Barefoot Contessa and is so moist and luscious.

• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup cocoa
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup freshly brewed coffee

1. In bowl of stand mixer, combine dry ingredients.
2. Add buttermilk, oil, eggs and vanilla slowly until just combined
3. Slowly add coffee until just combined.  Remove bowl from mixer and fold to make sure all in incorporated.
4. Divide into 4 6” round pans. (I weigh my bowl and divide by number of pans, subtracting weight of bowl)
5. Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes.  Let cool 15 minutes before removing to cool completely.
6. Ice with buttercream.

The icing is an orange flavoured buttercream.  It tastes just like orangecicles!

• 1 cup softened butter
• 1 cup shortening
• 8 cups icing (confectioners) sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tsp orange flavouring (I used LorAnne Oils)

1. Beat butter and shortening together until fluffy. 
2. Add sugar and then slowly add milk to your texture.  If too stiff add more milk.
3. Add flavour.  Whip on medium for 2 minutes until all lumps are gone.
4. Decorate as wanted!

I just thought chocolate and orange was a great combination and I was right!  It was delish.  I know Darty can’t actually eat the cake, so he got extra cookies!

This cake was devoured by us and our neighbours!  Another must try!

Happy Birthday Dartagnan, we love you!

Thanks for looking!