Chocolate Sheet Cake

This recipe comes from a family friend, Diane Leis. She lived one block down the street from our family growing up, and her daughter was one of my best friends. To this day I have memories of Diane eating a piece of this cake with pure joy on her face! This is a big sheet cake and is great for school or church events.

Cake:

2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1 stick butter
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup cocoa
1 cup water
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. baking soda

Mix sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. In saucepan bring butter, oil, cocoa, and water to a boil. Once boiling pour over dry ingredients and mix well. Dissolve baking soda in milk; then add milk, baking soda,& vanilla to mixture and mix well. Pour into a 16 x 11 inch sheet pan. Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 20 minutes. Remove from oven and frost cake while hot.

Frosting:

1 stick butter
4 Tbsp. cocoa
1 tsp. vanilla
6 Tbsp. milk
1/2 bag powdered sugar
1 cup chopped pecans, optional

Melt butter, cocoa, and milk over low heat. Slowly bring up to a boil. Whisk in your powdered sugar, vanilla, and nuts. Pour over hot cake.

Cover and place in fridge until it is set up. Cut into lots and lots of pieces and enjoy!