Thanks for the responses everyone! I made my 2nd batch and left off the stupid bake even strips....worked perfectly! The strips will be making their way to the trash shortly.......

So I'm making a scratch choc cake (CI layer cake) for my daughter's first bday and it cooked up nicely (a 9" pan w/ flower nail in the center), but then deflated once I took it out of the oven! Not the center....just sort of shrunk down everywhere. I made a 6" layer, using the same batter that had been sitting out while waiting for the 9" to cook even, and it rose beautifully and stayed that way...so I know it's not the batter. I also have an oven thermometer, so I know the temp was correct for both. I did use a springform pan and bake even strips for the 9"....do I need to ditch the strips and buy a different pan? Please help ASAP...I have to make the next layer by tonight! TIA!

Thanks so much everyone! I think I'll try out the CI recipe, based on chowser's more chocolatey/less dense description. You've all been a great help!

I will be making my daughter's first bday cake in less than 2 weeks, and I'm struggling to find a chocolate cake recipe that will work. I'm looking for moist, chocolatey, dense...but not too dense (I'm using the cooked flour/milk gravy recipe, which turns out to be pretty light/airy), but I also need it to hold up to stacking (I'm doing a 9" layered, with a 6" layer on top). I tried making this recipe from AllRecipes:
3 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1 tablespoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups sour cream
1 1/3 cups boiling water
It was ok, but just sort of blah...not very chocolately at all...even a day or two later. Here's another variable - I don't want a recipe that requires coffee, since my one year old will be eating it, along with several other little kids.
Anyone have any recipes that will meet all these criteria? I've looked through hundreds of posts, but haven't found anything that will meet all my needs....
TIA!!!