Chocolate Layer Cake

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 2/3 cups unsweetened cocoa powder, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 4 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1 package (8oz) cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/3 cup butter, at room temperature
• 1 boz (1lb) confectioners' sugar
• 5-7 tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, 2/3rds a cup of cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in the buttermilk, oil, eggs, 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and orange zest until well blended. Pour mixture into greased and floured 9-inch springform pan. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of the center clean. Completely cool in the pan on a wire rack.

While the cake is cooling, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth in a small mixing bowl with an electric mixer on high. Beat in the confectioners' sugar, the remaining cocoa powder and the remaining vanilla extract. Beat in the cream 1 tablespoon at a time until it becomes easy to spread. Remove the cake from the pan and slice horizontally into three equal layers. Frost each layer, plus the top and sides of the cake.