Our Favorite Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• Servings: 1
• 8 tablespoons shortening
• 2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 5 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Recipe

• preheat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c). lightly grease one 13x9 inch cake pan.
• cream together the shortening and the white sugar. add the melted chocolate and eggs, mix well.
• sift the flour with baking soda and salt. add alternately with 1 cup milk to shortening mixture. mix in 1 teaspoon vanilla. pour batter into prepared pan.
• bake at 350 degrees f (175 degrees c) for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick stuck into the center of the cake comes out clean. once cool frost with coffee frosting.
• to make frosting: mix together instant or leftover coffee, 1/4 cup milk or cream, cocoa powder, butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and confectioners' sugar until of spreading consistency.