Grandma's Lush Black Magic Cake Recipe

I don't know how far back this recipe stretches in our family.  What I do know is that my Grandmother made this cake for everyone's birthday for as long as I can remember.  She was an avid baker and her cakes and pies were some of the best I've ever had.  This particular cake is positively divine, surprisingly easy to make and my favorite chocolate cake recipe of all time. 

I'm making it today for my husband's birthday (it's his favorite too!) so I thought I'd share it with my friends here.  If you decide to give it a try, drop me a line and let me know how you like it.  Also feel free to email me with any questions as well. 

The picture above is my Grandmother circa 1929.  Isn't she precious?

Happy Baking!

Grandma's Black Magic Cake

Ingredients:

1 3/4 C. Flour

2 C. Sugar

3/4 C. Cocoa

2 tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1 tsp. Salt

2 Eggs

1/2 C. Vegetable Oil

1 tsp. Vanilla

1 C. of Brewed Black Coffee (OR 1 C. of Instant Coffee made with 2 tsp. of Coffee Granules and 1 C. of boiling water)

1 C. Buttermilk (if you don't have buttermilk on hand, you can make sour milk by adding 1TBSP. of vinegar to 1 C. of milk.-- I use the sour milk every time I make this)

Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.  Add eggs, coffee, butter/sour milk, oil and vanilla.  Beat mixture at medium speed for 2 minutes.  Batter will be thin (see photo)

Pour batter into a greased and floured pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes for oblong or bundt pans  (I typically use a bundt pan) and 30-35 minutes for layer pans. 

Test for doneness with a cake tester and remove cake from oven when tester comes out clean.  Remove from oven and allow pan to cool for 15 minutes on wire rack then turn cake out on to wire rack to finish cooling. 

Ice cake with your favorite icing or leave it plain.  It's just as yummy without any icing.  

Enjoy!