Chicago Chocolate Cinnamon Cake

Okay, the following three recipes can be found in the Ivory Favorites Cookbook that you can buy from the Make A Wish Foundation. So, if you have the cookbook (because so many Utah cooks do) you have the recipes. I have made them so many times, though, that you might be interested in my notes.

I first had this cake in, you guessed it, Chicago. Grace was in my ward back there but I don't know who she got the recipe from. Jenn, one of my favorite people in the whole world, used to make this cake for me. Now, no one makes it for me (although Karl did make it once) so I have to make it myself and it always brings back great, fun, crazy memories of being with Jenn in Chicago. Those that know Jenn, know what I mean. So, now that I am in Salt Lake, I figure if I get the recipe out there, the chances of someone making it for me are greater.

Chocolate Cinnamon Cake

2 C. flour
2 C. sugar
1 C. butter
¼ C. cocoa
1 C. water
½ C. buttermilk (or Jenn's trick: 1/2 T. vinegar plus 1/2 C. milk or I use powdered buttermilk)
1 t. baking soda
1 t cinnamon
1 t salt
1 t vanilla
2 eggs

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. Boil butter cocoa and water. Pour over dry ingredients. Mix in buttermilk. Cool. Add eggs and vanilla. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 or bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 30-35 min.

Frosting

½ cup butter
¼ C Cocoa
6 T. milk
1 t. vanilla
3 ¾ C powdered sugar
Using the same pot you used for the batter (to save labor and for no other reason), boil first three ingredients. Take off heat stir in vanilla & powdered sugar. I dump it all back into my mixer because it is hard to get it smooth otherwise.

Jenn bought me a mini bundt cake pan (see what a great friend she is?) just so I can make this cake for myself. The little cakes turn out so cute and are the perfect size to give away. This cake is so rich it is perfect served with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream.