Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a jelly roll pan* with parchment paper, or spray well with nonstick spray.

Step 2

Make the cake batter. In a medium or large saucepan, add 1 cup butter, 1 cup water, and 3/4 cup cocoa. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, sticking around to stir it. Once it boils, take it off the heat.

Step 3

Let it cool for a minute or two, then stir in 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup granulated sugar, and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Beat well with a whisk.

Step 4

Add 2 cups flour, making sure to spoon the flour into the measuring cup and leveling it off. Add 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (or sea salt) and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Use a small spoon to blend the salt and soda into the flour a little bit. Use a whisk to blend the dry ingredients into the batter thoroughly. Mix only until well combined and there are only a few lumps. (Don't over mix, or you will get a tough cake)

Step 5

In a glass measuring cup, add 3/4 cup of sour cream. Add 2 eggs and beat well until combined.

Step 6

Add the sour cream and eggs to the saucepan and fold the mixture in using a spatula, stirring only until it is just combined.

Step 7

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly to the sides.

Step 8

Bake at 350 for about 17-20 minutes* (check times below), until a toothpick comes out of the center with no wet batter on it. The sides of the cake should just be starting to pull away from the edge of the pan. Don't over bake!

Step 9

Meanwhile, make the frosting. Clean out the saucepan you used for the batter** and add 3/4 cup butter and mounded 1/2 cup cocoa. Stir together over medium heat until it comes to a boil, then remove from the heat.

Step 10

Add 2 cups powdered sugar and whisk well.

Step 11

Add 1/2 cup mounded sour cream and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Stir well.

Step 12

Use a whisk to stir in the remaining and 1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar, plus 1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt. Beat very well with the whisk. If you can't get all the powdered sugar lumps out, bust out your hand mixer and beat on high until it is smooth.

Step 13

If your cake is not done baking (or still too hot) when you finish the glaze, stir the frosting every now and then to break up the hardened shell on top.

Step 14

When the cake is done, take it out of the oven and let cool for 15-20 minutes. Spread the glaze over the cake, moving quickly, as it sets pretty fast. Let the frosting set up for at least 20-60 minutes before serving. (Or, you know. Don't.)

Step 15

Serve this with milk. No, seriously.

Step 16

The Jackie: my friend Jackie showed me her favorite way to eat this cake. Take two slices and stack them together so there is frosting in the middle and on top. Then stick it in the microwave. Whaaaat yes please it's so good you need to try it!!