Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3 cups sugar
• 5 large eggs
• 2 cups cake flour
• 1 cup Dutch process cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preparation

1. 1. Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended.
2. 2. Combine cake flour and next 3 ingredients; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla.
3. 3. Pour 7 cups batter into a greased and floured 13- x 9-inch pan, reserving remaining 1 cup batter.
4. 4. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes; remove from pan, and cool completely on wire rack.
5. Note: Prepare cake batter 1 1/2 more times; stir in reserved 1 cup batter. Repeat procedure for baking the second 13- x 9-inch layer. Spoon 3 cups batter into a greased and floured 9- x 5-inch pan. Bake at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Repeat procedure with remaining batter for baking the second 9- x 5-inch layer.