This recipe belongs to my husband’s great grandmother.  This cake has a soft texture and wonderful flavor.  I frosted it with chocolate butter cream  frosting, but it would also be good served plain with whipped topping and a sprinkle of cocoa powder.

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup softened butter
1 cup hot water
2 cups plain flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon instant coffee
2 tablespoons warm water

Directions:

In a mixing bowl combine sugar cocoa and butter.  Cream together scraping down bowl at least once.  Add 1 cup hot water and mix thoroughly.  In a separate bowl sift together flour, soda and salt.  Dissolve coffee in 2 Tablespoons warm water.  Add flour to cake batter alternately with buttermilk.  Pour in coffee mixture and vanilla.  Beat until smooth.  Bake in greased and floured round cake pans in 325 degree oven until done.  Frost cake as desired.

~Marsha Bradford