Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  1                cup  cocoa
  2               cups  boiling water
  1                cup  butter -- softened
  2 1/2           cups  sugar
  4                     eggs
  2 3/4           cups  all purpose flour
  2          teaspoons  baking soda
     1/2      teaspoon  baking powder
     1/2      teaspoon  salt
  1 1/2      teaspoons  vanilla extract

Preparation:

Combine cocoa and boiling water; stirring until smooth; set aside. Cream butter; gradually add sugar, beating well at med. speed of electric mixer. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, soda, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; add cocoa mixture, beating at low speed of electric mixer, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in vanilla. Do not over beat. Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9" round cake pans. Bake at 350F for 20-25 min. or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire rack. Spread whipped cream filling between layers; spread frosting on top and sides of cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutritional Information:

4040 Calories (kcal); 213g Total Fat; (44% calories from fat); 41g Protein; 551g Carbohydrate; 1245mg Cholesterol; 5959mg Sodium