Basic Chocolate Cake



INGREDIENTS:

4 oz Unsweetened chocolate squares 

1/2 c Shortening

2 c Sugar

2 Eggs

2 c Sifted cake flour

1/2 ts Baking powder

1 ts Baking soda

3/4 ts Salt

3/4 c Buttermilk

3/4 c Water

1 ts Vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1. 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 cakepans. Bake
at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick
inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10
minutes; remove from pans, and let cool completely on
wire 

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES:

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



Basic Chocolate Cake