Southern Chocolate Cake

Literally, the BEST cake I've ever had in my life. Even my non-cake eating family members like this one.

Ingredients

• 3 c flour
• 3 c sugar
• 1 1/2 c cocoa powder
• 1 TBS baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 c buttermilk
• 1 1/2 c hot water
• 1/2 c vegetable oil

Frosting

• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1 1/2 c softened butter
• 1 1/2 c cocoa powder
• 2 TBS milk (or more as needed)
• 8 c. powder sugar

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Prep three 9" cake pans by lightly buttering them and dusting them with flour.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until just combined
4. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, buttermilk, hot water, and vegetable oil
5. Add the liquid mixture to the flour mixture until just combined.
6. pour 3 cups of batter into each prepared pan
7. Bake the three cake pans for 30-35 min or until a toothpick comes out clean; cool for 10 min

Frosting Directions

1.  Cream the cream cheese and butter
2. Add the cocoa powder and milk.  Adjust milk as needed. (I have added up to 1/4 c. as needed.)
3. Add 1 c. powdered sugar at a time until frosting is mixed