Chocolate chip layer cake recipe

INGREDIENTS

4 cups

plus 2 tablespoons (480 grams) cake flour (or all-purpose flour)

2 tsp

baking powder

1 1/2 tsp

baking soda

1 tsp

table salt

2 sticks

(1 cup, 1/2 pound or 225 grams) unsalted butter, softened

2 cups

sugar

2 tsp

pure vanilla extract

large eggs, at room temperature

2 cups

buttermilk (475 ml), well-shaken (you can substitute whole milk + 2 tablespoons lemon juice or white vinegar)

1 cup

mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 1/3 cups

heavy cream

1 tsp

espresso powder (optional)

1 cup

sugar

6 oz

unsweetened chocolate

1 stick

plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 1/2 tsp

vanilla extract

1/8 tsp

salt