One-Pan Chocolate Cake

After our comfort food list of three post a couple of weeks ago, we received a few requests for my favorite chocolate cake recipe.  I snapped a few pictures and intended to post them with the recipe, but the lighting was all wrong and just didn't do the cake justice, so sorry, no photos after all.  This is a quick, easy cake, perfect for dessert or just a snack.  I like to bake anyway, but I especially love baking in the winter because the aromas seem to warm up the whole house.  With how cold it has been here this week, we need all the extra warmth we can get, so let's bake a cake!!

One-Pan Chocolate Cake
Preheat oven to 350.  In an ungreased 9x9 pan (a round cake pan would probably work, too), stir together:
1 c flour
2/3 c sugar
2 1/2 Tbsp cocoa
2/3 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
Then add:
2/3 c water
2 tsp white vinegar
2/3 tsp vanilla
1/4 c cooking oil
Stir with a fork until smooth.  Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.  While cake is baking, mix frosting:
1/4 c melted butter or margarine (I melt in a saucepan on the stove, then remove from heat and add all other ingredients to the saucepan)
2 Tbsp cocoa
3 Tbsp milk or evaporated milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 - 2 c powdered sugar
1/2 c chopped nuts (if desired)
Don't worry about small lumps in the frosting.  The recipe says to frost the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven, but I usually let it stand for a few minutes so that the weight of the frosting doesn't make the fluffy cake collapse.

Make it this weekend and let us know what you think!