Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!

Last night our community group had an Italian Dinner with chocolate cake for dessert. It was Ben's birthday and he requested chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. I happen to have a delicious chocolate cake recipe from my mom. It is the same cake I am making for Dave and Ellie's wedding in a few weeks. The great thing is it is so versatile. You can fill it with chocolate mousse, raspberry mousse, whipped cream, anything! It is a very dense and moist cake. I also got to use my new mad cake decorating skills to make it look elegant. I think it was a hit!

Chocolate Cake
Cake:

9 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
3 Tbs. vegetable oil
2½ cups brown sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
½ cup butter
½ cup buttermilk (or ½ cup milk w/ 1 Tbs. vinegar)
2¼ cups flour
½ tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup boiling water

Frosting:

⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 Tbs. vegetable oil
¼ cup butter
3 cups powdered sugar
⅓ cup warm water
1½ tsp. vanilla


Mix cocoa and vegetable oil. Cream brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and butter. Add cocoa and mix well.
Mix flour, salt, and baking powder. Alternately add buttermilk and flour mixture to batter. Mix well. Add 1 cup of boiling water. Pour into two greased and floured 8" round pans. Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes. Cool cake and fill with filling of choice. Mix together all ingredients for the frosting and frost the outside of the cake.