Rich Mocha Cake with Mocha Frosting

Happy Birthday to me!  Since it is my birthday, and I have turned 25 yet again,  I decided that I would make a cake which combined two of my favorite flavors;  coffee and chocolate!  When my kids get home from school in a half an hour,  we plan on digging in!

Rich Mocha Cake:

2 cups flour
 1  3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup baking cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt (I did not use)
1 egg
2/3 cup oil
1 cup butter milk
1 cup strong brewed coffee (I used decaf, or the kids and I will be up until midnight)

• In a large bowl, mix first 5 ingredients. (4 if you are not using salt)
• In another bowl, whisk the egg, oil and buttermilk.
• Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.
• Slowly add the coffee and stir.
• Pour into a greased 13 x 9 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
• **This batter is more "liquidy" then most cake batters.
• Remove, and let cool on wire rack.

Mocha Frosting:

1/3 cup softened butter

4  1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar

1/2 cup baking cocoa powder

1/4 cup milk

1 tablespoon instant coffee crystals (again, I used decaffeinated)

1  1/2 teaspoons vanilla

• In a bowl, beat butter until fluffy.
• Gradually add 2 cups of powdered sugar and the cocoa.
• Add the instant coffee to the milk and let stand for 3 minutes; Stir well.
• Add this mixture to the butter, sugar and cocoa mixture.
• Slowly beat in remaining sugar.  
• Add more milk if needed to make a spreading consistency.

-Queenie Cuisine  (who is actually queen for the day!)