German Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

1 package (4 ounces) German's sweet chocolate

2 1/3 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup butter

1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs, at room temperature

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt chocolate over very low heat; cool. Sift flour with sugar, soda, baking powder and salt. Stir butter in medium-sized mixing bowl to soften. Add flour mixture, 3/4 cup of the buttermilk and the vanilla. Mix to dampen flour; beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add melted chocolate, eggs and remaining buttermilk. Beat 1 minute longer. Pour batter into three 8" layer pans, lined on bottoms with paper or greased and floured. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until cake tester inserted into centers comes out clean. Cool in pans for 15 minutes; remove from pans and cool on wire racks. Spread Coconut-Pecan Frosting on layers and stack.