Chocolatetown Special Cake

From: 100 Best Brand Name Recipes cookbook

Ingredients:
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup boiling water
2/3 cup shortening
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups AP flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/3 cups buttermilk or sour milk

Frosting:
6 Tbsp butter, softened
2 2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
4-6 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

Stir together cocoa and water in small bowl until smooth.

Beat shortening, sugar and vanilla in large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add to shortening mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating until well blended. Add cocoa mixture; beat well. Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake 35-40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with buttercream frosting.

For frosting:
Beat butter in medium bowl. Add powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency. Stir in vanilla. Makes about 2 cups frosting.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I love homemade cake. They are cheaper than box mixes (really!) and I usually have everything on hand already so I save a trip to the store. This recipe is delicious! It's so easy I'll definitely be making it again.

*P.S. It says "You're a beast" because I was celebrating Stephen completing a Spartan Beast race!*