Perfect Chocolate Cake With Perfect Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients

1 c cocoa
2 c boiling water
1 c margarine
2 1/2 c sugar
4 eggs
2 3/4 c flour
2 ts baking soda
1/2 ts salt
1 1/2 ts vanilla
1 c whipping cream
1 ts vanilla extract
2 3/4 c powdered sugar
6 oz semisweet chocolate
5 3/4 c butter

Instructions

Recipe by: Southern Living Five Star Recipe Perfect Chocolate Cake: Combine cocoa and boiling water, stirring until smooth; set aside. Cream butter; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time. Combine flour, soda, baking powder, and salt in bowl; add to mixture alternately with cocoa mixture. Stir in vanilla. Use two 10" pans. Bake 350 degrees for 30 ~ 40 minutes. WHIPPPED CREAM FILLING: Beat whipping cream and vanilla until foamy; gradually add powdered sugar. Makes 1 cup. PERFECT CHOCOLATE FROSTING: Combine first three ingredients in saucepan; cook until chocolate melts. Remove from heat; add powdered sugar. Set pan in ice, and beat until frosting holds it shape and loses it gloss. Add a few more drops of half/half if needed to make spreading consistency. Makes 2 1/2 cups ----