Happy Winter Fudge Cake

Ingredients

• 3 oz semi sweet chocolate
• 2 c flour
• 1 c sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 c soft butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1-1/2 c plain yogurt (room temp)
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Melt chocolate in top of double boiler.  Set aside to cool.
2. In large bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each.
4. Combine flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda in separate bowl
5. Stir cooled melted chocolate into yogurt.  Add vanilla.
6. Add flour mixture to butter mixture in several parts, alternately with yogurt mixture, beginning and ending with flour
7. Stir in 1 c. chocolate chips
8. Pour into greased and floured tube pan or two layer pans.
9. Bake at 350, 45-50 minutes for tube, about 30 minutes for layers (you'll have to check on the layers, I'm not sure exactly about the time)
10. Let cool about 30 minutes before turning out onto plate.

Chocolate Glaze/FrostingIf you use a tube pan, you can ice it with a simple chocolate glaze made with melted semi-sweet chocolate and just enough heavy cream or half and half to make it pourable. If you make layers you'll need to come up with a chocolate frosting recipe. Chocolate Buttercream is good:

• 6 large egg yolks
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup corn syrup
• 2 c unsalted butter
• 6 oz melted bittersweet chocolate, cooled

Beat yolks with electric mixer until light in color. Meanwhile, combine sugar and corn sy5rup in small saucepan and heat stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves and syrup comes to a rolling boil. Immediately transfer to a glass measuring cup to stop the coooking. Beat syrup into yolks in a steady stream Don't allow syrup to fall on the beaters. Continue beating until completely cool. Gradually beat in butter and chocolate. Bring to room temperature before using.

fyi - This is from Z.K.'s family and is a cake she requested for her birthday for years...