Ingredients

• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans.
2. In a medium bowl, combine cocoa powder and boiling water, stirring until smooth. Set aside to cool.
3. In another bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
4. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla.
5. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in cocoa mixture until smooth.
6. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.
8. Prepare Mocha Icing and frost cake layers. Stack layers on a serving plate and frost top and sides of cake.