Texas Fudge Cake

As a true Northeastern girl I haven't ventured into the south much. I've been to Virginia, and Florida (but does that count as "the south"?), and... that might be about it! So when it comes to Texas fudge cake, I have no idea if this is authentic, or if people in Texas really eat a lot of fudge cake, but if they don't- they should. Because this recipe is good stuff! I made if for Easter (yes... and I'm just sharing it now) and loved it! I really think it's a great recipe for entertaining because it can be made a day or so ahead of time and it really holds up well. John and I sampled from this cake for the whole week after Easter and it was still moist and delicious. I like how the frosting is more of a crackly/fudgy topping and not a thick traditional frosting. It kind of reminded me of a brownie more than a cake, but a hybrid of brownie-cake can never be a bad thing!

Source: Cassie Craves

Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
5 tablespoons cocoa
1 cup water
2 cups sifted flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 batch frosting (recipe follows)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees with rack in the center of the oven. Butter and flour a 9 x 13 metal pan.
2. In a medium saucepan combine the butter, cocoa, and water. Bring to a boil.
3. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda.
4. Pour the hot ingredients into the the dry ingredients. Stir well with a wooden spoon.
5. Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla. Stir until the batter is smooth.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and place it in the oven. Bake for 25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Remove the cake from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool. Immediately make the frosting and pour the frosting over the warm cake. Spread the frosting evenly and let the cake cool before serving.

Frosting

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons cocoa
Dash salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

1. In a medium saucepan combine the butter, milk, cocoa, salt, and vanilla. Bring to a boil.
2. Place the powdered sugar in a large bowl. Pour the hot ingredients over the powdered sugar and beat with a wooden spoon until the frosting is smooth.