best chocolate cake

Happy Monday!
I had a busy weekend, so I have not started yet on my special cake! We had some friends that were in town from southern California over for dinner Saturday night, and that was so much fun! We loved spending time with them, and Corny and I love love love to cook together for people. Corny roasted the best chicken EVER (which today he will turn into the best chicken soup EVER!), some yummy potatoes that are really not good for you because they are covered in heavy cream, and some asparagus in a white wine sauce. I baked my favorite chocolate cake. I remembered to take pictures along the way, but since our friends were here I forgot to take pictures of how to make the frosting and the finished product!! Sorry!!

This is cake is soooo moist and so yummy. At my Grandparents restaurant they used to call it Chocolate Scotch Cake.

Cake:
2 Cups flour
2 Cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Cup butter
1/3 Cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 eggs
1/2 Cup buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon



Here we are getting ready to make the cake. Aiden was my best helper, and Stella was screaming (of course) so I had to just put her in the sling and get to work!

Grease a 13x9 pan, and I like to have a beer or a glass of wine when I bake. Today was Sam Adams Winter brew, you can choose what you like :)

Mix the flour, sugar, soda, cinnamon and salt in a bowl and set aside.

That's Aiden adding in the sugar.

Aiden can never quite keep his hands out of everything, but don't worry he has to scrub them good before he helps mommy in the kitchen!

In a medium saucepan add butter, cocoa powder, and 1 cup of water.

Stir constantly until it comes to a boil.

Add it to the dry mixture and beat on high until combined.

Add the 2 eggs, and if your 5 year old cracks the eggs please remove the egg shells from the batter.

Add buttermilk and vanilla, beat for one minute then pour into pan. Place in a 350F oven for about 25 minutes.

Frosting
1/4 Cup butter

3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

3 Tablespoons buttermilk

2 1/4 Cups powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoons vanilla

3/4 Cup chopped pecans

In a saucepan add the butter, cocoa, and buttermilk. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir in pecans.

You don't have to wait for the cake to completely cool before you put on the frosting because it just melts into the cake a bit. I love to serve this cake warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

Yummy!! Let me know if any of you try it!