Welcome to Daisy Farm Kitchen! Craving some chocolate? This chocolate cake recipe topped with chocolate syrup and ice cream is the perfect go-to recipe. My Grandma Anna Vee called it Secret Cake.

In this recipe, it calls for 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup shortening. I only had butter, so I did 1 cup (2 sticks) instead and it worked great. You can do it with or without shortening, up to you. 

I am not quite sure what makes it a “secret” but it does taste amazing and is topped with buttermilk cocoa frosting. After I made the cake, few hours went by, and my family already ate half of it before I even tried it! This cake is perfect to make for a family gathering, serves 12. 

Yield: 12

Secret Cake

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Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 cup water
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

Combine flour, sugar, and salt in large bowl. In a saucepan over medium heat, boil together butter, shortening , water, and cocoa. Stir until shortening and butter are melted. Allow to boil over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add chocolate mixture to dry ingredients stir until well combined. Add buttermilk and baking soda, stir, then add eggs & vanilla, stir until combined. Pour into a greased 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 for 35-40minutes.

Buttermilk Cocoa Frosting

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Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 3 tbsp cocoa
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

Combine butter, buttermilk, and cocoa in medium saucepan, allow to come to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and add powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, stir after each add. Pour over hot cake.

Ingredients

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup butter

3 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder

1 cup water

2 eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

Directions

Combine flour, sugar, and salt in large bowl. In a saucepan over medium heat, boil together butter, shortening , water, and cocoa. Stir until shortening and butter are melted. Allow to boil over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add chocolate mixture to dry ingredients stir until well combined. Add buttermilk and baking soda, stir, then add eggs & vanilla, stir until combined. Pour into a greased 9×13 inch pan. Bake at 350 for 35-40minutes. 

Buttermilk Cocoa Frosting

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup buttermilk

3 tbsp cocoa

2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Directions

Combine butter, buttermilk, and cocoa in medium saucepan, allow to come to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and add powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, stir after each add. Pour over hot cake.