Checkerboard Cake

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup (180 ml) sugar
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) water
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) 35% cream
• 3/4 cup (180 ml) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups (500 ml) icing sugar
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) white vanilla extract
• 1 cup (250 ml) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cups (310 ml) sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons (10 ml) vanilla extract
• 2 cups (500 ml) flour
• 2 teaspoons (10 ml) baking powder
• 1/3 cup (75 ml) milk
• 3 tablespoons (45 ml) cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons (45 ml) additional milk
• Cocoa, for garnish