This is my friends Mother's recipe, he sent it to me after reading my ?Magic Pie? recipe as this does not look very appetizing until it comes out of the oven. For us brits, any cocoa will do or a very high cocoa content chocolate can be used. I recommend just using normal cocoa and then you can decide if you need more in your next one.

This is one of the ?TRUE? powers of the internet instant messaging (email) I would of have had to wait a good few days for this to be delivered by snail mail.

Dark Horse Cake

Ingredients:

?1/2 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa or HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa

?1/2 cup boiling water

?2/3 cup shortening

?1-3/4 cups sugar

?1 teaspoon vanilla extract

?2 eggs

?2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

?1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

?1/2 teaspoon salt

?1-1/3 cups buttermilk or sour milk*

?ONE-BOWL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING(recipe follows)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350'F (180'C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

2. Stir together cocoa and water in small bowl until smooth. Beat shortening, sugar and vanilla in large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add to shortening mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating until well blended. Add cocoa mixture; beat well. Pour batter into prepared pans.

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with ONE-BOWL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING. 8 to 10 servings.

* To Sour Milk: Use 4 teaspoons white vinegar plus milk to equal 1-1/3 cups.

ONE-BOWL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened

2-2/3 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa or HERSHEY'S Dutch Processed Cocoa

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat butter in small bowl. Add powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk; beat to spreading consistency (additional milk may be needed). Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.