Favorite Moist and Decadent Chocolate Cake

Happy Birthday to Papi!
(Does anyone else have an eight year old boy as happy as mine?? Hehe! Teenage years, here we come!)

It was my Dad's 57th birthday the other day and he requested a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. I knew just the cake to make for him. This recipe has been around my husband's family for many generations and is the all-time most requested chocolate cake for birthdays.

I do have to admit that I take the cheater approach and use a boxed chocolate cake instead of making their homemade chocolate cake recipe. I do love the homemade chocolate cake, but the cake batter is never dark chocolate enough for me. I actually just prefer using a Devil's Food Chocolate Cake mix, adding 1 small package chocolate instant pudding, and a little extra oil. This will make your cake the perfect texture and extra moist.

Now, for the frosting, my FAVORITE part! This cooked frosting, although it takes a few more minutes than regular frosting, is well worth your time! It is smooth, soft, and tastes just like chocolate fudge on top of your cake. Eat this cake with vanilla ice cream and some fresh berries and you will be in heaven!!

(We made two cakes and the second cake I cut up into small squares to bring to a BBQ--a big thick slice of this cake would have been prettier to photograph, but it was gone too quickly!)

Here is the 'top secret' family recipe:

Chocolate 1-2-3 Cake

Grease and flour 9x13 cake pan.

STEP 1: In pan combine 1 stick margarine, 1 c. water, ½ c. shortening and 3 ½ T. cocoa. Bring to a boil.

STEP 2: Sift together 2 c. flour and 2 c. sugar in large mixing bowl. Pour step 1 into step 2.

STEP 3: Mix together in separate bowl 2 eggs well beaten, 1 t. soda, 1 t. vanilla, ½ c. buttermilk. Add to step1 & step2. Bake at 350 for 37 minutes. When cake has been in oven 15 minutes start making icing.

(OR, just use a boxed chocolate cake!)

FROSTING: 1 stick butter, 3 ½ T. cocoa, 1/3 c. sweetened and condensed milk, stir constantly and bring to a boil. Add 1 lb.-powdered sugar (or a little less, depending on how soft you want your frosting), 1 t. vanilla and ¾ c. chopped walnuts, almonds or pecans (nuts are optional). Beat well and ice cake while it is still hot. Serve cake warm or cooled.