Chocolate Birthday Cake

Yield: 16 servings

Ingredients

• Cake
• 3 cups flour
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla
• Frosting
• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 tsp vanilla
• 7-8 cups confectioners' sugar
• Milk, as needed

Directions

1. Mix together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.  Add the eggs, buttermilk, warm water, oil, and vanilla.  Beat until smooth.
2. Divide batter amongst 3 greased & floured 9" cake pans.
3. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack.
4. For the frosting, beat together the butter cream and cream cheese until fluffy.  Add in the cocoa powder and vanilla extract.
5. Beat in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.  If you go too far, use a little milk to softened it.
6. Frost the cake in layers.  Frost the outside.
7. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Adapted from The Stay At Home Chef.