Ingredients:

Chocolate Cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder sifted
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk room temperature
1 cup hot water
2 large eggs room temperature
2 tsp vanilla

Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream:
5 large egg whites
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter room temperature
8 oz good quality dark chocolate chopped, melted, cooled* 

Instructions :

Chocolate Cake:

Preheat oven to 350F, grease two 8″ round baking pans and dust with cocoa powder. Line bottoms with parchment.

Place all dry ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Stir to combine.
In a medium bowl whisk all wet ingredients (pour hot water in slowly as not to cook the eggs).

Add wet ingredients to dry and mix on medium for 2-3 mins. Batter will be very thin.

Pour evenly into prepared pans. I used a kitchen scale to ensure the batter is evenly distributed.

Bake for 45 mins or until a cake tester comes out mostly clean.

Cool 10 minutes in the pans then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream:

Place egg whites and sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk until combined.**

Place bowl over a double boiler on the stove and whisk constantly until the mixture is hot and no longer grainy to the touch (approx. 3mins). Or registers 160F on a candy thermometer.

Place bowl on your stand mixer and whisk on med-high until the meringue is stiff and cooled (the bowl is no longer warm to the touch (approx. 5-10mins)).

Switch to paddle attachment. Slowly add cubed butter and mix until smooth.*

Add cooled melted chocolate and whip until smooth.

Assembly:

Place a layer of cake on a cake board or plate. Top with approx. 1 cup of buttercream and spread evenly. Place second layer on top and do a thin crumb coat on the cake. Chill for 20mins.

Place 1 cup of frosting on top and spr