Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 (1-oz.) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
• 2 cups sifted cake flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 Tbsp. vinegar

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans and line the bottom with parchment paper.
2. 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 the melted chocolate.
3. In a separate bowl, combine flour and salt. Add buttermilk and the chocolate mixture alternately. Stir in vanilla.
4. In a small bowl, dissolve baking soda in vinegar. Slowly add this to the chocolate mixture. Mix just until blended, avoiding over-mixing.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove and transfer to wire racks to cool completely before frosting.

Chocolate Frosting:

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

Chocolate Frosting Instructions:

1. 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 the frosting with 1-2 tsp. half-and-half.