Fall is in the air and that always makes me want to bake my favourite sweet treats. There is one standard I always gravitate to. My kids ADORE it! Need a big family hit? Roll up your sleeves and start making this amazing, beautiful and decadent cake. ENJOY!

Ingredients

For the cake:
• butter & flour for dusting and coating the cake pan
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1.5 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 Tbsp baking soda
• 1.5 tsp baking powder
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 4 lg eggs
• 1.5 cups buttermilk
• 1.5 cups lukewarm water
• 0.5 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

For the frosting:
• 1.5 cups softened butter
• 8 ounces softened cream cheese
• 1.5 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 7 or 8 cups powdered sugar
• about 1/4 cup of milk (if needed)

Cake instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter three nine-inch cake rounds. Lightly dust with flour.
2. Mix flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl until combined.
3. Add eggs, buttermilk, lukewarm water, vegetable oil, and pure vanilla extract. Beat until smooth.
4. Divide batter evenly between the three cake pans. Gently tap the cake pans on the counter to carefully get rid of any bubbles.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Cool on wire racks for 15 minutes. Then remove the cakes from their pans and place them on a wire rack to fully cool before frosting.

Frosting instructions:
1. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer (or a stand mixer) to beat together butter and cream cheese (about 3 minutes).
2. Add cocoa powder and vanilla extract. Beat until just combined (about 30 seconds).
3. Bit by bit, beat in powdered sugar. Add milk if necessary for a spreadable consistency.
4. Assemble cake and frost away! The cake should be refrigerated once frosted, but can remain at room temperature for up to four hours.