Essential Chocolate Cake

makes two 9x2" round cakes

2 cups AP or Cake flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup (10 2/3 Tbs) butter, softened
1 3/4 cups sugar
3 large eggs + warm water
1 1/3 cups milk, preferably whole, warmed to room temperature

Spray two 9" round pans with cooking spray, line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper and lightly spray the parchment as well.

Place the eggs in a bowl of warm water to come up to room temperature.

Sift the flour, cocoa powder, soda and salt, set aside.

Cream the sugar and butter. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well between each.

Add the flour mixture in 4 additions, alternating with the milk. Begin and end with flour. Spread into prepared pans and bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.