Sour Cream Chocolate Cake

2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 tablespoons powdered buttermilk
9 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons mayonnaise or shortening
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8-inch layer pans. Mix all dry ingredients together. Blend in mayonnaise, eggs, vanilla and 1/2 of sour cream. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed with mixer or 300 strokes by hand. Add remaining sour cream and beat 2 minutes longer. Pour into pans. Bake 25-35 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Cool on rack a few minutes before removing from pan. When completely cool, frost cake.


Frosting: 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 stick butter, 1 box confectioners' sugar, dash or two of cinnamon (optional), 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cream butter and cream cheese together until fluffy, gradually add dry ingredients one at a time until all are well blended. Add vanilla and blend well.