The batter for this deliciously moist and rich chocolate cake recipe contains cocoa powder and buttermilk, and those same ingredients are also used in the powdered sugar icing.
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
4 tbsp. cocoa
1 cup water
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Ingredients for Frosting--
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
4 tbsp. cocoa
5 tbsp. buttermilk
4 cups (1 box) powdered sugar, sifted 1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Method
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9" x 13" pan. Sift together flour and sugar; set aside. In a saucepan over high heat, bring butter, cocoa and water to a boil, then pour over the sugar and flour mixture and mix well. Add buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla to flour mixture and mix well. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes at 400 degrees or until toothpick inserted in cake center comes out clean. To Prepare the Frosting: In a saucepan over high heat, bring butter, cocoa and buttermilk to a boil, and remove from heat. Add sugar and vanilla, and beat with a wire whisk until well blended. Stir in nuts, if using. While frosting is still warm, spread on cake.
