Christmas Chocolate Town Cake

This recipe was on a Christmas ornament I received years ago. It’s an excellent chocolate cake. Frost with your favorite chocolate frosting.

Christmas Chocolate Town Cake

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup boiling water
  • 2/3 cup shortening
  • 1 3/4 cups white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/3 cups buttermilk

Instructions

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 – 9 inch pans. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

2 Combine cocoa and boiling water in small bowl to form a smooth paste. Cool slightly.

3 In a large bowl, cream together the shortening, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk, mixing just until incorporated. Blend in cocoa paste.

4 Divide batter into 2 prepared 9 inch pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans then turn out onto wire rack and cool completely.