Basic Chocolate Cake

4 oz Unsweetened chocolate

-squares 1/2 c Shortening

2 c Sugar

2 Eggs

2 c Sifted cake flour

1/2 ts Baking powder

1 ts Baking soda

3/4 ts Salt

3/4 c Buttermilk

3/4 c Water

1 ts Vanilla extract

Recipe by: Southern Living

Place chocolate in top of a double boiler; bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook until chocolate melts. Cream shortening; gradually add sugar, beating well at medium speed of an electric mixer. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add chocolate, mixing well. Combine flour, baking powder, soda, and salt; add to chocolate mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix after each addition. Add water, mixing well. Stir in vanilla. Pour batter into 2 greased and floured 9-inch round cakepans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES: Spoon batter into paper-lined muffin pans, filling each cup half full. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from pans, and let cool on wire

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