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The Melaniff Family Cookbook

Basic Chocolate Cake

So much better when made form scratch.

Ingredients

4 (1-oz) squares unsweetened chocolate

1/2 C shortening

2 C sugar

2 eggs

2 C cake flour, sifted

1/2 t baking powder

1 t baking soda

3/4 t salt

3/4 C buttermilk

3/4 C water

1 t vanilla extract

Procedure

Place chocolate in top of a double boiler; bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook until chocolate melts.


Cream shortening, gradually add sugar, beating well at medium speed of an electric mixer. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add chocolate, mixing well.


Combine flour, baking powder, soda, and salt; add to chocolate mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix after each addition. Add water, mixing well. Stir in vanilla.


Pour batter into 2 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans. Bake at 350ºF for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans and let cool completely on wire racks. Frost if desired.

cakes & frostings

From The Southern Living Cookbook, 1987, page 112

Chocolate Cupcakes

Spoon batter into paper-lined muffin pans, filling each cup half full. Bake at 350ºF for 15 to 18  minutes. Remove from pans and let cool completely on wire racks. Frost if desired.

Yield; 3 dozen.