Decadent Fudge Cake

Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups miniature semisweet chocolate chips, divided
• 8 ounces sweet baking chocolate, melted and cooled
• 1/3 cup chocolate syrup
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 ounces chocolate, chopped
• 8 teaspoons shortening, divided
• chocolate and chocolate leaves (optional)

Recipe

• 1 cream butter in a large mixing bowl; gradually add sugar, beating well at medium speed of an electric mixer.
• 2 add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
• 3 dissolve soda in buttermilk, stirring well.
• 4 add to creamed mixture alternately with flour, beginning and ending with flour.
• 5 add 1 cup mini-morsels, melted chocolate, chocolate syrup, and vanilla, stirring just until blended (do not overbeat).
• 6 spoon batter into a heavily greased and floured 10 inch bundt pan.
• 7 bake at 300 f for 1 hour and 25 to 35 minutes or until cake springs back when touched.
• 8 invert cake immediately onto a serving plate, and let cool completely.
• 9 combine 4 oz chopped chocolate and 2 tbls shortening in top of a double boiler; bring water to a boil.
• 10 reduce heat to low; cook until mixture is melted and smooth.
• 11 remove from heat.
• 12 drizzle melted chocolate mixture over cooled cake.
• 13 melt remaining 1/2 cup mini-morsels and 2 tsp shortening in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth.
• 14 remove from heat, and let cool; drizzle over chocolate.
• 15 if desired, garnish with chocolate and chocolate leaves.