Texas Ranch Cake...finally, huh??

I'm posting this one first because some of hubby's pals at work had some of this on Monday and I promised I would get the recipe up.  My sweet son actually made the cake, it's his fave from Ms. Melanie!!!

Cast of characters:

2 cups flour ( I like to sift)

2 cups sugar

1 stick butter

4 Tbsp cocoa

1 cup water

1/2 cup oil

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 Tbsp baking soda

Sift together your flour and sugar in a bowl and set aside.  In a saucepan heat butter, cocoa, water and oil to a rolling boil...(or have your help do this ..heehee)

This is what it looks like when you get it going:

Now remove it from the heat and cool slightly.

Pour into the flour mixture then add the vanilla, eggs, buttermilk and baking soda.  Beat with mixer until combined and then pour into an ungreased jelly roll pan like so:

then pop it in a 400 degree oven and bake for 18-20 minutes.

When the cake is done baking, make the frosting as you want to frost the cake warm and the frosting must go on very quickly when you make it.

Frosting:

1 stick butter (chill people...it's a cake!!)

4 Tbsp cocoa

1 tsp vanilla

1 lb powdered sugar

4 Tbsp buttermilk

Bring butter and cocoa to a boil, remove from heat and beat into the powdered sugar, vanilla and buttermilk.  Spread quickly over warm cake.

Then you get this!!!!

It's so yummy...the frosting is almost like fudge...Just perfect and if you can eat the cake right when you finish icing it... I highly recommend a scoop of Blue Bell vanilla. 

Peace, Love and Yummies!