Chocolate Cake

Everyone needs a good chocolate cake recipe. This is mine. It is simple and fabulous. Confession time: sometimes I use AP flour and don't even sift.It is less tender of a crumb but the average child will not notice. The buttermilk is more important.

Chocolate Cake

4 oz squares unsweetened chocolate

1/2 cup shortening

2 cups sugar

2 large eggs

2 cups sifted cake flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup buttermilk

3/4 cup water

1 tsp vanilla

Place chocolate in a double boiler, bring water in bottom to boil. Reduce heat to low; cook until chocolate melts. Beat shortening at medium speed with electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time beating after each addition. Add chocolate, mixing well. Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; add to chocolate mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix at low speed after each addition until blended. Add water, mixing well. Stir in vanilla. Pour batter into two greased and floured 9-inch cake pans. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean from center. Cool in pans 10 minutes then remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks. Frost as desired. Serves 12.

Recipe Source: The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook