Chocolate Cinnamon Raisin Cake with Buttercream

Ingredients

Cake

• 3 oz unsweetened baking chocolate
• � cup cocoa
• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 � tsp vanilla extract
• 2 � cups cake flour
• 2 � tsp baking soda
• 2 � tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• � tsp cinnamon
• � cup raisins, chopped
• � cup walnuts, chopped

Cinnamon ButterCream

• � cup butter
• � cup shortening
• 6 � 8 tbspmilk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 8 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Chocolate Frosting

• 3 oz unsweetened baking chocolate
• 6 tbsp milk
• 3 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 6 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• � tsp salt

Directions

Cake

1. 1. Pre-heat oven to 350 F and grease five 8"round baking pans with cooking spray.
2. 2. Melt chocolate in a double boiler and set aside.
3. 3. Sift together cocoa, baking powder, salt, flour, and baking soda.
4. 4. In a mixing bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar until creamy.
5. 5. Slowly beat in eggs then add vanilla and then add flour mixture alternating with the buttermilk. Beat until well blended.
6. 6. Remove 3 cups of the batter and mix in cinnamon, raisins and nuts.
7. 7. To the remaining batter in the bowl, mix in melted chocolate and then cocoa. Beat until well combined.
8. 8. Divide chocolate batter among 3 prepared pans and bake for 25-30 mins until done.
9. 9. Remove from oven, allon to cool 20 mins and then turn out onto cooling rack.
10. 10. Divide the cinnamon batter between two pans and bake for 25-30 mins until done.
11. 11. Remove, allow to cool 20 mins, then turn out onto rack.
12. 12. Frost with Cinnamon Buttercream or Chocolate Frosting around the cake.

Buttercream

1. Use a mixer to beat butter until creamy. Beat in shortening until blended and then beat in 4 tbsp milk and vanilla extract. Slowly beat in powdered sugar and rest of the milk as needed. Add cinnamon and mix well.

Chocolate Frosting

1. 1. Melt chocolate in a bowl over a pot of simmering water and then remove and set aside.
2. 2. Whisk milk in a pot and bring to a boil. Remove and add powdered sugar. Whisk until smooth and cool to lukewarm.
3. 3. Beat butter until creamy. Add salt, vanilla and slowly add the sugar mixture. Beat until smooth and then beat in melted chocolate smooth and shiny.