| 4 squares unsweetened baking chocolate | ½ cup hot water |
| 1 3/4 cups sugar | 1 tsp vanilla |
| 1 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour | 1 tsp baking soda |
| 1 tsp salt | ½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine |
| 3 eggs | 3/4 cup milk |
Heat chocolate with water over very low heat, stirring until mixture
is smooth. Add ½ cup sugar and cook 2 minutes longer.
Cool to lukewarm.
Add vanilla.
Sift flour, baking soda, and salt.
Cream the butter. Gradually beat in the remaining 1 ¼
cups sugar, and beat until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
Add the flour and milk alternately, beating after each addition until
smooth.
Blend in the chocolate mixture.
Pour into two greased and floured 9-inch layer cake pans. Bake
at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes, or until cake tests done.
Cool ten minutes; remove from pans and finish cooling on racks.
Frost with Classic Fudge Frosting.