Ingredients

Cake:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup strong black coffee
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting:

• ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• ⅓ cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preparation:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Prepare a 9×13 inch baking pan by greasing it and dusting it with flour.

Making the Cake:

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until well blended.
2. Add in the eggs, buttermilk, strong coffee, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Beat with a mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Your batter might be a bit thin—don’t worry, that’s normal!
3. Carefully pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.
4. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
5. Once baked, let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before frosting it.

Making the Frosting:

1. For the frosting, melt the butter in a medium bowl.
2. Stir in the cocoa powder until smooth.
3. Gradually alternate adding in the sifted powdered sugar and milk, mixing until you achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency. You can add a bit more milk if the frosting is too thick.
4. Finally, beat in the vanilla extract for flavor.
5. Frost your cooled cake with the delicious chocolate buttercream frosting, and you’re all set!