The Best Chocolate Cake

I wanted to write a quick post about my favorite chocolate cake. We made one tonight to take over to a cookout at my in-laws house. My mother-in-law is a big fan of dark chocolate, so I thought this would be the perfect dessert. It was a last minute decision, and I forgot to take a picture. If you're anything like me, you probably won't try it because there is no picture, but I promise it's worth it. Honestly, it's nothing to look at, just a regular chocolate layer cake, but it's so good - rich, moist, and delicious! I like to pair it with a vanilla bean buttercream, but it would lend itself to any frosting that you like. The recipe is from the back of a Hershey Cocoa box where sometimes you can find the best ones, and I'm going to do the best that I can to recall it from memory... 

Hershey Black Magic Cake - Hershey Co.

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup flour
2 cup sugar
3/4 cup cocoa
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking power
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup strong brewed coffee
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
Mix dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt) in a large bowl.
Make a well in the center and add eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oil, vanilla.
Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour into two 9 inch round cake pans or one 9x13 pan - batter will be runny.
Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Vanilla Bean Buttercream - from Brown Eyed Baker
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 1/2 sticks butter
2 tbsp. heavy whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 vanilla bean.

Directions:
Mix butter in stand mixer until light and fluffy.
Split vanilla bean in half and run knife down each half to put the beans into the butter and mix until combined.
Add powdered sugar and mix until combined.
Add vanilla and whipping cream and mix for 4-5 minutes until light and fluffy.
Once cake is cooled, spread on frosting.