Mom's Chocolate Cake
Taste of Home
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Over the years, Mother has become known for wonderful homemade desserts like this old-fashioned chocolate cake. It was difficult, but my brothers and I always managed to save room for dessert.
-Linda McGinty, Parma, Ohio
SERVINGS: 12-15
CATEGORY: Dessert
METHOD: Baked
TIME: Prep: 20 min. + cooling Bake: 35 min. + cooling
Ingredients:
- 2 squares (1 ounce each) unsweetened chocolate, broken into pieces
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 2 cups packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs, separated
- 2 cups sifted cake flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk*
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- COCOA FROSTING:
- 6 tablespoons butter, softened
- 3-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 cup baking cocoa
- 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Pinch salt
- 4 to 6 tablespoons milk
Directions:
In a small bowl, stir chocolate in boiling water until melted; cool for 10 minutes. In a mixing bowl, cream shortening and brown sugar. Beat in egg yolks and chocolate mixture. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Gradually beat in water, nuts and vanilla. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form; fold into batter. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.
In a mixing bowl, cream butter. Combine sugar and cocoa; gradually add to butter with vanilla, salt and enough milk to achieve desired spreading consistency. Frost cake. Yield: 12-15 servings. *Editor's Note: To sour milk, place 1-1/2 teaspoons white vinegar in a measuring cup. Add milk to equal 1/2 cup.