This is the chocolate cake I make for every chocolate-lover's birthday. It's a classic recipe from Fannie Farmer's cookbook, known as Huntington Chocolate cake. It's quick and simple to make, dense, moist and not as sickly-sweet as many "box" recipes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F)

Melt together in the microwave:
2 ounces of unsweetened chocolate
1 sticks of butter

then stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

In a large bowl, mix together:
1 cup cake flour
1 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Into this stir:
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
and
the chocolate mixture.

Stir until smooth

The recipe says it makes 1 9-inch round layers, I make 1 8-inch square layer. Double it for two layers. Butter and lightly flour the pan(s).

Spread the batter in pan(s), bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick poked into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pans for ten minutes or so before you turn it out onto a cooling rack.

Let cool, frost with buttercrea, icing (or your favorite.)

If you want the icing recipe, it's super-easy, let me know.