Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake

A cake from scratch doesn't have to take all day to make! This old fashioned chocolate cake is made even better by a tangy buttermilk pecan icing.

• Preparation Time: 45 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 437 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup buttermilk
• ⅓ cup buttermilk

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. In a saucepan, melt 1 cup of butter. Stir in 1 cup water and 4 tablespoons cocoa powder. Remove from heat and set aside.

Step 2

In a medium bowl, dissolve the baking soda in 1/2 cup of buttermilk. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the cooled cocoa mixture.

Step 3

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Make a well in the center and pour in the cocoa buttermilk mixture. Stir until blended. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Ice the cake with Buttermilk Pecan Icing while it's still warm.

Step 4

For the icing: In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter with 4 tablespoons cocoa. Stir in 1/3 cup buttermilk, and heat until almost boiling. Stir in confectioners' sugar, vanilla, salt and pecans. Remove from heat. Mix well and pour over warm cake.