World's Best Devil's Food Cake

Submitted by: Julie Cisler

Ice with Best Cocoa Frosting in the Universe

1/2 cup shortening
1-3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt (can use less)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup cold water
1/2 cup cocoa
2-1/2 cups sifted cake flour (use more if all-purpose flour is substituted)
1 cup cold water
3 egg whites
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/3 cup cold water

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slowly add 1 cup of the sugar while stirring shortening in a large bowl. Add salt and vanilla to this mixture.

2. In a measuring cup, combine cocoa and 1/3 cup cold water; add this paste to the previous mixture. Add flour and 1 cup cold water alternately; beat batter between each addition.

3. In a seperate bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add 3/4 cup sugar to the egg whites while beating until stiff peaks form. Gently fold egg white mixture into batter.

4. Dissolve baking soda into 1/3 cup cold water; stir gently into batter.

5. Grease and flour either one 9" x 13" rectangular cake pan or two 9" round cake pans.

6. Bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. This cake will fall if jarred -- so step with caution.