Devils Fun Cake

This was my dad's favorite cake. It takes most of a day to make, and very little time for the family to eat it. My mom copied this recipe down from a radio program in the early 1940's. You can cut the recipe in half but why deprive the family of so much good fun.

I usually make it into 6 layers, 3 for each of 2 cakes. Be sure to refrigerate.

Make this for your Valentine! See if he doesn't react as my dad did.


DEVILS FUN CAKE

cake:
6 squares baking chocolate
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups boiling water
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 3/4 cup cake flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
4 eggs

Pour boiling water over chocolate and butter; stir to dissolve. Stir in sugar and buttermilk. Add sifted dry ingredients, stirring just enough to blend. Add eggs and beat 2 minutes. Pour into greased, floured, lined pans. Makes 3 or 4 10-inch layers or 6 9-inch layers. Bake 25 minutes in 350 F. oven. Test in center of cake with toothpick and check edges to see that they have pulled away from sides of pan just a little. Cool 15 minutes and upend on plates or waxed paper.

Chocolate Custard Filling
4 egg yolks
4 cups milk
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 squares baking chocolate

Mix eggyolks with milk in top of double boiler. Mix dry ingredients together and blend into liquid. Grate chocolate into mixture, stirring constantly until thick, cover and cook an additional 10 minutes. Cool and spread on cakes. I like to make 2 3-layer cakes. You may have to toothpick the layers together so they don't slip. That is the Devils Fun part of this cake.

7-Minute Icing

4 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
6 tablespoons water
3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla

In top of large double boiler blend all except vanilla. Beat while cooking with electric mixer until icing stands in stiff peaks, about 7 minutes. Add vanilla and beat in. Frost tops and sides of cakes.

Very happy eating this super devils food fun cake!!!