MAKING THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME:

Found this on another site and tried it out tonight, was delish! I didnt add any red food coloring (all out, oh well) and just a dollop of BC icing and it was a HIT! I used the 2 cups of sugar and 1 cup of oil method since that was a comment on the recipe and a lot of people commented that it was better this way and I have to agree! At the suggestion of the commenter I also skipped the vinegar, and just tossed the baking soda in with the flour. I guess it is your call on what to use but this is a great basic recipe.

FYI just recently learned you can freeze buttermilk! I freeze mine in 1/2 cup increments in ziploc baggies, they melt really fast when needed!

Ingredients
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
1 ounce food coloring (if you want)
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups regular sugar (1 and a half if using shortening instead of oil)
1 cup oil ( or 1/2 cup shortening if you prefer)
2 eggs
2 and a half cups of all purpose flour
1 and half tsp baking soda
ICING:
1 cup of milk
5 tbsp all purpose flour
1 cup of regular sugar
1 cup of butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
In a sauce pan combine milk and flour. Cook on low heat stirring constantly until it thickens. Let cool completely. Cream butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy, stir in cooled milk mix and beat until it reaches a spreading consistency.

Instructions
Preheat to 350. Mix cocoa and food coloring and set aside
Combine buttermilk, salt and vanilla extract and set aside.
Cream oil and sugar (or shortening and sugar) until mixed.
Beat in eggs one at a time and then add coca mixture.
Beat in buttermilk mix and flour alternatively until it is all incorporated.
Mix baking soda and vinegar together and fold into batter.

Pour into cake pan and bake for approx 30 mins (9 in pans)

FLAVOR IS GOOD
TEXTURE IS PRETTY GOOD BUT I THINK I MAY HAVE OVERFILLED BECAUSE IT BAKED OVER AND THE PART THAT BAKED OVER IS A LITTLE CRUNCHY.
THEY ALSO LOOK LIKE SOMEONE POKED THEIR FINGER IN THE MIDDLE. IS THIS BECAUSE IT IS A CAKE RECIPE? I HAVE ALWAYS USED THEM INTERCHANGEABLY.