Mama's Delux Chocolate Birthday Cake


110ml(125g) soft butter/marg
10ml(2tsp)Vanilla Essence
375ml(300g)castor sugar
3 large eggs
125ml(60g)Cocoa
125ml(1/2cup)hot water
125ml(1/2cup)warm milk
500ml(2cups)cake flour
10ml(2tsp) cream of tartar
5ml(1tsp) bicarbonate of soda
2ml(1/2tsp)salt


For the icing:

250g butter,softened(but not oily)
500g icing sugar,sifted
30ml(2Tbsp)milk
+/- 2Tbps cocoa

For the cake:

1.Preheat oven to 190'C
2. Cream butter/marg till soft,add vanilla essence.
Gradually add sugar,beating continuously.
3.Beat in eggs one @ a time( if mixture curdles, add some of the measured, sifted dry ingredients).
4.Dissolve cocoa in hot water,add warm milk.Set this mixture aside to cool.
Sift together dry ingredients & add alternately with cocoa-milk mixture to the creamed mixture. Pour the batter into 2 greased 22cm cake tins.
Bake @ 190'C for 35-40mins(skewer should come out clean when cake centre is pierced).

For the icing:

Beat the butter until it's pale,then gradually beat in the sifted icing sugar until the mixture has become fluffy.
Add the milk & then work in the cocoa.