Chocolate Mashed Potato Cake
 
Makes 1 (8-Inch) Cake
Ingredients
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup Plain Mashed Potatoes (recipe follows)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • Chocolate Buttercream (recipe follows)
Chocolate Buttercream
  • 1 (4-ounce) bar semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3½ cups confectioners’ sugar
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Plain Mashed Potatoes
  • 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line 2 (8-inch) round baking pans with parchment paper and spray with baking spray with flour.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add Plain Mashed Potatoes and vanilla, beating until just incorporated. Gradually add flour mixture, alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating well after each addition.
  4. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in centers comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove and let cool completely on a wire rack.
  5. Spread Chocolate Buttercream between layers and on top and sides of cake.
Chocolate Buttercream
  1. In a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat chocolate and cream over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is melted and smooth. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. In a large bowl, beat butter and cooled chocolate mixture with a mixer at medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, cocoa, and salt, beating until smooth and stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Beat in vanilla until combined. Use immediately.
Plain Mashed Potatoes
  1. In a large saucepan, add potatoes, salt, and cold water to cover; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Drain potatoes. Using a fork or potato masher, mash potatoes to a fine consistency. Let cool to room temperature.
Recipe by Taste of the South at https://tasteofthesouthmagazine.com/chocolate-mashed-potato-cake/