Heavenly Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 tbls. cocoa
• 2 tsps. soda
• 2 tbls. vanilla
• Chocolate Frosting (recipe follows)

Directions

1. Cream butter. Add sugar and cream well together.

2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

3. Combine flour, salt, cocoa and soda.

4. Add buttermilk and dry ingredients alternately. Then add vanilla and mix.

5. Bake in 4 greased and floured (9-inch) layer pans in a preheated 350-degree oven for 25 minutes or until done. Frost between layers and on tops and sides with Chocolate Frosting.

Chocolate Frosting
6 (1-oz.) squares unsweetened chocolate
2/3 cup butter (about 11 tbls.)
Dash of salt
6 cups sifted powdered sugar, divided
1/2 cup half-and-half
3 tsps. vanilla

1. Melt chocolate. Beat butter, salt and 2 cups of sugar until fluffy. Blend in chocolate.

2. Add remaining sugar alternately with half-and-half and vanilla. Beat well.

Source: The Advocate – (Melinda Winans) Baton Rouge, La