Before anything else, grease your three 8x2-inch round cake pans using a non-stick cooking spray. Then, preheat your oven to 335 degrees Fahrenheit.
Afterward, ensure to bring your ingredients to room temperature before using them to emulsify them properly.
After that, heat your water until it simmers. Next, add your cocoa powder to the water. Then, make sure to stir until your cocoa powder is moist. Remember, it may look lumpy. However, it is all right. Also, set the cocoa and water mixture to cool down while preparing for your cake batter.
3 ounces of hot water, about 85 grams, 1 ounce of dutch cocoa powder or natural, about 29 grams
Next, combine 3/4 cup of buttermilk and oil in a mixing bowl. Then, make sure to set aside. Also, combine your eggs, the remaining milk, vanilla, and almond extract in a different mixing bowl. In addition, break up the eggs by using a whisk and setting the mixture aside.
4 pcs of large eggs at room temperature, 5 ounces of vegetable oil, about 142 grams, 14 ounces of buttermilk at room temperature, about 397 grams, 2 tsp of vanilla, 1/2 tsp of almond extract
Then, proceed to mix your flour, sugar, and baking powder. In addition to that, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl. With this, be sure to utilize an electric mixer with a paddle attachment. After that, beat for about ten seconds to blend every ingredient.
16 ounces of cake flour, about 454 grams, 16 ounces of granulated sugar, about 454 grams, 1 tsp of baking soda, 1 tbsp of baking powder, 1 tsp of salt
Afterward, add your softened butter into your flour mixture. Then, beat at a low setting for about thirty seconds. Likewise, you can beat until the flour mixture looks coarse sand. Next, add in your buttermilk and oil mixture. Then, beat in a low setting until your dry ingredients become moist.
8 ounces of softened unsalted butter, about 227 grams
Next, increase the setting to medium speed. Afterward, beat for another two minutes to help develop your cake's structure. Also, scrape your bowl using a rubber spatula. Then, reduce the mixer's speed to low. After that, pour your egg mixture into three portions. Remember to mix after each addition for about fifteen seconds. In addition to that, scrape your mixing bowl's sides and bottom. Doing so ensures that everything combines well.