Step 1

Pre-heat oven to 350F (conventional) and prepare 2 4" cake pans with butter / parchment paper

Step 2

Add the sugar, flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda and salt to a bowl and whisk to combine and get rid of any lumps

Step 3

To the same bowl, add the oil, melted butter, vanilla, egg white, buttermilk and food color. Whisk gently until combined

Step 4

Separately, mix the cocoa powder with the hot water to bloom it

Step 5

Pour the bloomed cocoa powder to the cake batter and gently mix it in

Step 6

Divide the cake batter evenly between the 2 cake pans

Step 7

Bake for ~15 minutes or until the cakes are done

Step 8

Let the cakes cool down

Step 9

Whisk the cream cheese, butter and vanilla until combined. Add the icing sugar and whisk until a frosting is formed

Step 10

Trim off the tops of the cakes. Place one cake on your serving stand and cover with a thick layer of the frosting

Step 11

Top with the second cake and frost again! You can cover the full cake or pipe the frosting on top in dollops like I did

Step 12

Serve and enjoy