Chocolate Cake

If you can find Hershey's Special Dark cocoa, buy it. It makes a great chocolate cake. Here's a recipe that people ask me for all the time - well no, that's not right. They ask me to make the cake. Sort of the same thing I guess.

Dark Chocolate Cake

2 cups all  purpose flour

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspooon salt

1 cup butter (nothing else will do)

1/3 cup Hershey's Special Dark cocoa powder (again, nothing else will do)

2 eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon good pure vanilla extract

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan.

Melt butter with cocoa powder and a cup of water over medium heat stirring until it just comes to a boil. Remove from heat and let cool a bit while you measure flour, sugar, soda and salt into a large mixing bowl. Whisk dry ingredients together to combine. Pour the chocolate mixture into the dry mixture and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for one minute. Increase speed to low high and beat 30 seconds more. Add eggs one at a time beating a few second after each addition. Add buttermilk and vanilla and beat 30 seconds more. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Test for doneness with a wooden toothpick.

While cake is still warm prepare frosting. In a medium sauce pan combine 1/4 cup butter, 3 tablespoons Hershey's Special Dark cocoa powder, a few grains of salt and 3 tablespoons buttermilk. Bring to a bowl stirring occasionally. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla then beat in 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar. Spread warm frosting on warm cake. Let all cool on a wire rack completely.