The Quintessential Chocolate Cake

INGREDIENTS

• For the Cake:
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup cocoa powder
• 1 ½ tsp. baking powder
• 1 ½ tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup scolding hot coffee
• For the Ganache Filling:
• 12 oz. heavy cream (about 1 ½ cups)
• 12 oz. baking chocolate ( I use Ghirardelli dark chips)
• 2 Tb. butter
• 2 Tb. sugar
• For the Chocolate Frosting:
• 1 stick butter, melted (1/2 cup)
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder
• 3+ cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup cream (or milk)
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. instant coffee