Chocolate Buttermilk Cake

2 cups sifted flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
1 cup butter, softened
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 1/3 cups buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Sift together flour, salt, nutmeg, and baking soda. Melt chocolate in double boiler or gently in the microwave and cool to touch. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and beat until incorporated after each egg. With the beater on low speed alternate flour mixture and buttermilk--beginning and ending with the flour. Stir in vanilla and cooled chocolate, blending until color is even. Bake at 350 degrees--40-45 minutes for a 9x13 pan and 35-45 minutes for layer cakes. Cool on racks for 10 minutes and remove from pans to cooling racks.

I think I made this in 3 8-inch rounds.

This is the "prize winning" frosting--



Chocolate Confectioners Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening, such as Crisco
1 Teaspoon flavoring--I use vanilla
4 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
2 Tablespoons milk + 2 Tablespoons milk
4 ounces of unsweetened baking chocolate, melted.

Cream butter and shortening, add vanilla. Beat in sugar and 2 Tablespoons of milk. Add chocolate. Beat in sugar until creamy. Add other 2 tablespoons of milk if needed for spreading consistency.

Hope you enjoy it.

Lera

Thanks for sharing this recipe, it sounds yummy.