This chocolate fudge cake is so dense and chocolatey. WARNING:This is absolutely NOT for the dieter or diabetic!!!! It is like eating pure fudge...serve in small pieces!! This is a country recipe that has been a well guarded secret until I came across it in a book called "WHITE TRASH COOKING" and I recognized it as the cake my sister's husband's Aunt would make for people, but would NEVER share the recipe!! I made this cake and it is her exact recipe!!!! The cake can either be baked in a 13x9" pan or two 9" square baking pans. ENJOY a trip to chocolate heaven when you taste this!!! Please use only the finest Cocoa to make it!!

Cake:

3 1/2 cups cake flour
2 1/2 teasp. baking powder
3/4 cup Dutch Processed Cocoa (unsweetened)
1 teasp. salt
3 cups sugar

Sift all of the above into a large mixing bowl.

3/4 cups Crisco shortening
1 3/4 cups butter or margarine

Add to above using your hands to blend it in, just like you do for biscuits, until it resembles a coarse meal.

2 cups buttermilk
4 large eggs
2 teasp. vanilla extract

Add milk and beat 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add vanilla and beat 1 minute.

Pour batter into a well greased and floured pan: 13x9" or 2 - 10" square pans.

Bake in a 350* preheated oven for 1 hour.

Fudge Frosting:

2 cups sugar
3 tabsp. Dutch Processed Cocoa (unsweetened)
1 stick butter or margarine
pinch salt
1 can evaporated milk

Combine above ingredients in a med. saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until well blended. Remove from heat and gradually add 1 box sifted confectioner's sugar and 1 teasp. vanilla extract. Beat well. Immediately fill and spread over cake. You can leave the 13x9" cake in the pan and just pour desired amount of icing over the top. Let set and cut into squares. For the square cakes, fill and ice the cake with the frosting and allow icing to set before cutting. Enjoy!!