BLACK MIDNIGHT CAKE

Steps:

• Instructions To Prepare the Cake: 1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2.In a small bowl, dissolve cocoa powder and cayenne with hot brewed coffee and set aside. 3.In the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment, cream shortening, oil and sugar until well combined. 4.Add eggs and beat until light and creamy, about 1-2 minutes. This process beats air into the mixture. Scrape paddle and bowl and beat once. 5.Slowly add in coffee/cocoa mixture, buttermilk and vanilla and beat until batter is smooth. Scrape paddle and bowl and beat once. 6.In a separate bowl, sift flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Add dry ingredients to wet and beat on low speed to incorporate. Scrape down bowl and beat until all ingredients are well combined. 7.Butter the bottom and sides of two cake pans and place a round parchment circle in each. Butter the top of the parchment then sprinkle the whole inside of the parchment and pan with cocoa powder, shaking out excess. Pour batter evenly between two pans and place in center of oven. 8.Bake 30-40 minutes or until tooth pick inserted in center comes out clean. Depending on your oven, you may need to rotate cake pans half way through. The use of olive oil in this recipe requires it to cook a few minutes longer than most cakes. 9.Cool pans on wire racks for ten minutes then carefully