Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.* Line the bottoms with parchment paper for easy release.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
Mix in the oil until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk (start and end with the flour). Mix until just combined. Avoid over-mixing.
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake for 32-36 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the frosting and assemble:
In a large bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
Sift together the confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add this mixture to the beaten butter, allowing them to incorporate slowly.
As the frosting thickens, gradually add the heavy cream and vanilla extract, mixing on low speed until smooth. Increase to medium-high speed and beat for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. If needed, add more cream, one tablespoon at a time, until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.
Place one cooled cake layer on a serving plate. Spread frosting on top, then place the second cake layer on top. Frost the top and sides of the cake. Garnish and decorate as desired.
Notes
*Make sure your 8-inch pans are at least 2 inches deep.
To bake in 9-inch pans, the layers will be thinner, so decrease the baking time by about 5 minutes.
To bake in a 9x13-inch pan, bake for 35-40 minutes.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days.
For tips, step-by-step photos, and extra details, be sure to read the full post above before starting. It’s packed with helpful info to answer common questions!