Room For Dessert Pastries

Image by Theen ... via Flickr

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup soft shortening
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
• 2 1/4 cups sifted flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tsp. baking soda

Preparation

Cut waxed paper to fit bottom of 13 x 9-inch pan. Cream shortening and sugar; add eggs, one at a time and beat well. Blend in melted chocolate. Add flour and salt alternately with buttermilk and baking soda. Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes. Loosen edges; turn out and remove waxed paper.

Helpful Baking Tip: Make sure you are using the freshest ingredients for the best results. Even baking soda and baking powder will get old. To test baking soda for freshness, mix with a little vinegar. Mix baking powder with a little warm water. If they are fresh, they will bubble furiously. It’s time to replace them if you see little or no reaction.

Icing:

• 3 squares unsweetened chocolate
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 1 pkg. powdered sugar
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 7 tbsp. milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup cut marshmallows

In double boiler, melt chocolate with butter. Sift powdered sugar and salt into a bowl. Add milk and vanilla. Add chocolate and butter. Sprinkle nuts and cut marshmallows on top of cake. Pour icing over all.

Did You Know?

Powdered sugar – also called confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar in the United Kingdom – is finely ground white granulated sugar. It is mixed with about 1-3% cornstarch or calcium phosphate to keep it dry and keep the powdered sugar from caking.