Hershey's Chocolatetown Special Cake

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa or HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 2/3 cup shortening
• 1-3/4 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/3 cups buttermilk or sour milk*

Directions

1. 1 Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
   
2. 2 Stir together cocoa and water in small bowl until smooth. Beat shortening, sugar and vanilla in large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add to shortening mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating until well blended. Add cocoa mixture; beat well. Pour batter into prepared pans.
   
3. 3 Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with ONE-BOWL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING. 8 to 10 servings.
   
   * To Sour Milk: Use 4 teaspoons white vinegar plus milk to equal 1-1/3 cups.