Birthdays come and go each year and how you celebrate is entirely up to you. One thing I can count on as I age (gracefully, I hope) is that I'll be making an outrageous, over–the–top, in–your–face type of cake. This year's flavor was a personal best (Double Chocolate Sour Cream) and I have no regrets. Why do I take on this unconventional task? Read on to find out and to get this delicious, decadent recipe.

Baking my own cake is my birthday present to myself.

Each year, I round up current inspirations (last year's recipe for strawberry milk cake was pretty nutty) and soldier forth with an indulgent trip to the market and a morning of puttering about. I listen to a favorite mix CD — this year's was a Hole compilation (my musical mind never left 1998, yes I've got issues) — and don a 'power outfit' to keep things classy. And I get to work. I follow instructions deftly and I try my best to make no mistakes. I mean, this present is going to a VIP!

My birthday falls about a week after the New Year, so everyone is on a cleanse or burnt out of party mode. I've found an extravagant confection lightens the mood, breaks everyone's avowed health promises and lays the foundation for a sweet and rich year ahead.

If you haven't ever made your own birthday cake, I highly recommend it. There's something very satisfying about taking the bull by the horns, creating your own favorite flavor combo masterpiece and cutting a healthy slice. Served with Prosecco, coffee or loads of milky tea (as I do), you can declare yourself the Queen and give thanks for life.

So, what birthday cake did I whip up this year? A Double Chocolate Sour Cream Cake. I was in the mood for a moist, dark chocolate cake and this recipe did not disappoint. It was everything I'm looking for in a chocolate birthday cake (I insist on layers for birthdays for some reason; a gateau or batch of cupcakes simply won't do) and I highly recommend this recipe. I'm going to bookmark it for future chocolate lovers.

Double Chocolate Sour Cream Cake
makes two 9-inch round layers

For the cake:
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 ounces dark chocolate (I like 70% for this), melted
1 cup strong brewed coffee
Crushed pistachios and extra cocoa powder for garnish, optional

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two standard 9-inch cake pans and set aside. (For the cake you see above I used a 9-inch cake pan and a deeper 7-inch springform to create two different-sized layers.)

In a medium-sized bowl, mix the flour, baking soda and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or using beaters), cream the softened butter with the sugars until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs, one at a time on low speed, then add the vanilla extract and sour cream. On medium speed, mix in the melted chocolate and coffee.

Finally add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture in about 2 or three batches. Mix until batter is uniform; it will look light brown and turn much darker in the oven as it bakes.

Bake for about 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool on wire rack and wrap with plastic wrap until you're ready to frost and serve cake.

For the frosting:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup sour cream
2/3 cup cocoa powder
Pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

In the bowl of a standing mixer, sift the powdered sugar. Cream the soft butter into the sugar until fully mixed. Add the sour cream, cocoa powder, pinch of salt and vanilla and mix on medium speed until uniform in color. Taste and sweeten if you like by adding a little more powdered sugar (I like my frosting not too sweet).

To assemble the cake:
Use a few strips of wax paper to line a cake stand or plate. Frost generously between the two layers and the exterior; I just used a spoon and made simple swirls. Garnish with crushed pistachios and cocoa powder, if desired. Serve immediately.

Related: Recipe: Nigella Lawson's Chocolate Guiness Cake

(Images: Leela Cyd Ross)

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