Smith Island Cake

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Gather the ingredients.

2. Step 2

   Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease three 8-inch pans with cooking spray or softened butter. Line the bottoms with parchment paper.

3. Step 3

   To make the cake, combine the sugar, oil and vanilla in a large mixing bowl and whisk vigorously to combine.

4. Step 4

   Add the eggs and the yolks, one at a time, whisking after each addition to incorporate.

5. Step 5

   Add the milk and whisk a final time.

6. Step 6

   In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, soda and salt and with a flexible spatula, gently fold the dry into the wet in 3 additions. The batter will be lumpy, but it is forgiving, and you can give it a quick whisk before filling the cake pans.

7. Step 7

   Pour a scant 2/3 of a cup of batter into each cake pan and bake for about 10 minutes, rotating at the halfway point. The cake layers are ready when a toothpick comes out with a moist crumb or two.

8. Step 8

   Let cool until the pans are easy to handle and then invert the layers onto cooling racks and repeat twice more with the remaining batter, cleaning, greasing and papering the pans between each round. When you are done, you should have 8 to 9 layers total.

9. Step 9

   Make the frosting while the layers bake. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar and evaporated milk and cook until the sugar melts.

10. Step 10

    Add the chocolates and butter, increase the heat to medium high, and cook until melted.

11. Step 11

    Once melted, reduce the heat back to medium and stir occasionally until the mixture thickens, about 10 to 15 minutes. It should resemble hot fudge sauce.

12. Step 12

    Add the vanilla and salt, stir and transfer to a different vessel (to help it come to room temperature more quickly) and set aside to cool and thicken. You may place it in the refrigerator, stirring frequently, to speed up this process.

13. Step 13

    To frost the cake, place a layer on a cake stand and spread a quarter cup of frosting over the layer.

14. Step 14

    Place another layer on top and repeat. Continue layering and frosting until you run out of layers.

15. Step 15

    Spread the frosting on the top of the cake and on the sides. Let the frosting set up for about 30 minutes before serving.

16. Step 16

    Decorate with sanding sugar or sprinkles if you wish.