Sweetheart Cake Valentine Recipe

Ingredients

1 3/4 c. flour
2 c. sugar
3/4 c. cocoa
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 c. strong black coffee (or 2 tsp.
   instant coffee plus 1 c. boiling
   water (I use 2 tbsp. instant
   coffee)
1 c. buttermilk or sour milk (To
   sour:  1 tbsp. vinegar plus milk
   to = 1cup)
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
CREAM  CHEESE  FROSTING:
1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1/2 c. butter or margarine
1 tsp. vanilla or almond flavoring
2 c. powdered sugar
1 tbsp. cocoa (optional)

Directions:

Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, soda, baking powder and salt in large mixer bowl.  Add eggs, coffee, buttermilk or sour milk, oil and vanilla.  Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes.  (Batter will be thin!)  Pour batter into a greased and floured 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan or two 9 inch cake pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes for oblong pan or 30 to 35 minutes for layer pans.  Cool.  Frost with your favorite vanilla frosting, or CREAM  CHEESE  FROSTING  listed below.
CREAM  CHEESE  FROSTING:
Combine all ingredients.  Beat well.  Spread on the completely cooled cake.  (Frosting will beat up into more volume if cheese and butter are used directly out of the refrigerator.)