Old Fashioned Chocolate Buttermilk Cake & Chocolate Frosting

Old Fashioned Chocolate Buttermilk Cake

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cup white sugar (or, organic cane sugar)
2 eggs
2 (1-oz.) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
2 cups sifted cake flour
1 tsp. sea salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. real pure vanilla extract
1 tsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. vinegar

Chocolate Frosting
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 cups confectioners’ sugar
3 (1-oz) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 tsp. real pure vanilla extract
Half-and-half (if necessary)

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour 2 9-inch cake pans.
Line bottom of the pan with parchment paper.

In a large bowl or standing mixer, cream butter until light and fluffy.

Add sugar and beat until creamy.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Stir in melted chocolate.

In a separate bowl, combine four and salt.

Add buttermilk and chocolate mixture, alternating.

Stir in vanilla.

In a small bowl, dissolve baking soda in vinegar.

Slowly add this to the chocolate mixture.

Mix just until blended.

Do not over-mix.

Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes
or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool in pans for 10 minutes then remove from pans.

Transfer to wire racks and cool completely before frosting.

Chocolate Frosting
In a large mixing bowl,
cream butter until light and fluffy.
Slowly add sugar, 1/2 cup at a time,
beating well between additions.
Stir in chocolate and vanilla.
If necessary,
thin frosting with 1-2 tsps. half-and-half