1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup shortening or butter
3 eggs — well beaten
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
3 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup hot water
1 teaspoon vanilla
Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting:
3 ounces softened cream cheese
1 tablespoon milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups confectioner’s sugar
2 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
…..
Cream together sugar and shortening. Add eggs, and beat well. Add baking soda to buttermilk; add to sugar mixture and mix well. Combine sifted flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder. Sift into batter and beat well. Add hot water and vanilla and beat well. Pour batter into 2 greased and floured 8 or 9″ round cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until cakes test done. Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes and then turn them out onto wire racks. Fill and frost with chocolate cream cheese frosting. To make frosting, beat cream cheese, milk and vanilla until smooth. Add confectioner’s sugar and beat until smooth. Melt the baking chocolate in the microwave, and add melted chocolate to the cream cheese mixture. Mix well. If necessary, add a little more milk until frosting is of spreading consistency.