ANN HASKOVEC'S CHOCOLATE SHEET (SHEATH) CAKE

(Yes, Don, this is another one of your favorites.  And, you might agree that, while it is not a necessity, a bowl of homemade vanilla ice cream is a natural addition to Mom's tasty cake.  Just sayin'.)

Cake ingredients:

Thoroughly mix the flour and sugar together in a medium bowl. Set aside.

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups granulated sugar

Combine the 4 ingredients below in a medium saucepan.  Bring to a rapid boil, stir, then pour the hot mixture into the flour/sugar mixture.  Stir (or beat) until all ingredients are incorporated and the mix is smooth. 

1 stick butter

1/2 cup Crisco

4 tablespoons dry cocoa powder

1 cup cold coffee 

(Don't love coffee? Don't let this ingredient distract you since the coffee flavor is barely discernible in the recipe  unless you make an extra-strong cup.)

Additional ingredients:

Pour the buttermilk into a bowl or measuring cup.  Thoroughly stir in the baking soda.  Allow about 5 minutes for the mixture to increase in volume. 

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon baking soda

Add:

1-2 teaspoons vanilla

2 eggs - beaten well

Pour the additional ingredients into the flour/sugar/chocolate blended ingredients.  Stir (mix) thoroughly.  Pour this mixture into a lightly greased (I use PAM.) baking pan or dish - approximately 16X11 in size.  Bake at 350 degrees in a preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  

Icing:

1 stick butter - softened

4 tablespoons dry cocoa powder

6 tablespoons milk

Put these three ingredients (above) in a saucepan  and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  Remove the pan from the heat and add:

1 box powdered sugar

1-2 teaspoons vanilla

1 copped finely chopped nuts (like pecans or walnuts) - optional

Beat the above icing ingredients together until smooth.

Carefully spread the icing on the cake while the cake is hot.

 

Wow!  Thanks, Mom!