THE HOOSIER CAKE

from Scott Reeves of Blue County, with help from his music partner, Aaron Benward

For the Cake

Ingredients:	2 cups all purpose flour 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 sticks butter 4 Tablespoons cocoa 1 cup water 1/2 cup buttermilk 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:	Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 1. In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. 2. In a medium saucepan, melt the 2 sticks of butter. When butter is completely melted, stir in cocoa and water, and bring to a boil. 3. Slowly pour hot liquid mixture into the dry ingredients, combining thoroughly. 4. Add buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract. Beat with a mixer until thoroughly blended. Pour into a 9 x 12 greased pan and bake for 30-40 minutes.

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks butter
4 Tablespoons cocoa
1 cup water
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

2. In a medium saucepan, melt the 2 sticks of butter. When butter is completely melted, stir in cocoa and water, and bring to a boil.

3. Slowly pour hot liquid mixture into the dry ingredients, combining thoroughly.

4. Add buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract. Beat with a mixer until thoroughly blended. Pour into a 9 x 12 greased pan and bake for 30-40 minutes.

For the Icing

Ingredients:	1 stick butter 4 Tablespoons cocoa 6 Tablespoons buttermilk 1 box powdered sugar, sifted 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:	1. In a medium pan, melt butter. Add cocoa, stirring until smooth. 2. Add buttermilk and mix. 3. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, then stir until smooth. If using, add chopped nuts. (A CK viewer adds that she heated the mixture to boiling to get it to "set".) 4. Spread the warm icing over the warm or cooled cake. Sift a thin layer of additional powdered sugar over the icing. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Ingredients:

1 stick butter
4 Tablespoons cocoa
6 Tablespoons buttermilk
1 box powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

1. In a medium pan, melt butter. Add cocoa, stirring until smooth.

2. Add buttermilk and mix.

3. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, then stir until smooth. If using, add chopped nuts. (A CK viewer adds that she heated the mixture to boiling to get it to "set".)

4. Spread the warm icing over the warm or cooled cake. Sift a thin layer of additional powdered sugar over the icing. Serve warm or at room temperature.