Dixie-Style Dining: Dixie’s Double Chocolate Cake with Buttercream Icing

You’ve been waiting… and now it’s here.  Dixie’s Double Chocolate Cake. 

Funny little tidbit… this cake actually has a sort-of inappropriate name.  It’s one of those things that is going to be a family secret.  The first time I saw my grandmother make this cake, she told me the name.  And then she said, “But when I take it somewhere, I call it ‘Double Chocolate Cake.’” So… this is Dixie’s Double Chocolate Cake with Buttercream Icing.

In 2005, I went on a trip to Atlantic City for a weekend with my friend Kati.  We had a fun weekend shopping and doing a little gambling, and on Saturday, Kati flew home.  I decided to arrange for a Sunday flight home so I could have a night with my grandparents, who lived in Philadelphia.  I think it was the only time I ever stayed at their house without the rest of my family.  It was a nice visit, and on Sunday, my grandmother was  busy making this delicious-looking cake to take to a church event.  I was watching as she iced the cake and sort of salivating… and my grandfather was doing the same thing.  He said it was one of his favorite cakes, and he was really afraid that it would all get eaten and he wouldn’t get a piece.  And because she was taking the cake to church later that night… I did not get a piece, either.

For two days, I kept thinking about that cake, so I finally emailed them and asked for the recipe.  My Grindaddy sent it to me the next day and I made it right away.  (He shared with me that he DID get a piece of cake, by the way!)  It WAS delicious.  And I felt really proud of myself for making a cake from scratch AND making the icing!

So now I am sharing it with all of you… and I hope that you enjoy it!  I will share one other funny tidbit with you… I made this cake for a work party on Thursday.  Ryan was jealous that I wouldn’t let him have any the night I made the cake.  But there were leftovers.  And he just ate 3 pieces for dessert. 

“Dixie’s Double Chocolate Cake”

Start with 3/4 stick of butter, softened, 2 cups of sugar, 2 eggs, and a pinch of salt.  Cream all together.  Then, in one cup boiling water, dissolve 1 cup Hershey’s Cocoa and add to mixture.  Add 2 cups flour and 2 tsp. vanilla.  Finally, add 2 tsp. baking soda in one cup boiling water and blend into mixture.  (YES, there are 2 full cups of water in this recipe!  That’s not a typo!)  Bake 1 hour and 5 minutes (time varies for different ovens—so check it at 50 minutes) at 350 degrees in a small tube pan or bundt pan.

Buttercream Icing:

Blend together: 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 stick of butter, 3 Tbsp. milk, 1 tsp. vanilla.  Add more sugar if you like.

Enjoy with coffee… or better yet… ice-cold milk.