CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE WITH BUTTERSCOTCH FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• CAKE: Melt the chocolate with 1/3 cup water; stir until smooth.
• Remove pan from heat; let cool until lukewarm.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350*F.
• Grease an 8 1/4x4 1/2" loaf pan; line the bottom with waxed paper.
• Put the sugar, butter, salt, baking soda, and vanilla in a medium bowl.
• Beat with an electric mixer on high speed until well blended.
• (The mixture WON'T be creamy.) Add 1 egg; beat until creamy, pale, and fluffy.
• Add the other egg.
• Reduce mixer speed to medium and beat in 1/2 the flour, then 1/2 the milk.
• Beat in the remaining flour and milk, then the chocolate, until blended.
• Scrape batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 60-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Cool the cake in the pan for 5 minutes.
• Loosen edges from sides of pan; invert onto a wire rack and peel off the waxed paper.
• Turn right side up and cool completely.
• MAKE THE FROSTING: Melt the chocolate with the brown sugar and heavy cream in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring often, until smooth.
• Remove pan from heat; add the butter, vanilla, and salt and stir until the butter has melted.
• With an electric mixer on low speed, beat in 1 cup of the powdered sugar.
• Increase the speed to high and beat for 1-2 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
• Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in the remaining powdered sugar.
• Increase speed to medium and beat the frosting for 1 minute longer.
• ASSEMBLE THE CAKE: Cut the cake in 2 layers.
• Spread 1/2 the frosting on the bottom layer, replace the top, and spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides.
• Serve as is, or with a scoop of ice cream and a generous portion of fudge sauce.
• MAKE THE FUDGE SAUCE: (OPTIONAL).
• Bring the evaporated milk and sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring often to dissolve the sugar.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Remove saucepan from heat.
• Add the chocolate, vanilla, and salt and let stand for 5 minutes until the chocolate melts.
• Beat with an electric mixer on high speed (be careful--the chocolate will spatter at first) until smooth and thick, about 3 minutes.
• Serve warm.