Chocolate Lard Cake

Chocolate Lard Cake Glossy Fudge Frosting (To Follow)

Beat egg whites until frothy. Gradually beat in 1/2 cup sugar. Continue beating until very stiff and glossy.

In another bowl, stir lard to soften. Add sifted dry ingredients and 3/4 cup buttermilk. Stir to moisten dry ingredients; then beat 1 minute, medium speed on mixer. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl constantly. Add remaining buttermilk, egg yolks and melted chocolate.

Beat 1 minute, scraping bowl constantly. Fold in egg whites. Pour into 2 greased and floured 8-inch round layer cake pans or a 13 X 9 X 2 inch pan.

Bake in moderate oven at 350F for 30 to 35 minutes. Cool on rack 10 minutes.

Remove from pans. Brush crumbs from cake while warm to facilitate frosting. Frost with Glossy Fudge Frosting.

GLOSSY FUDGE FROSTING: 2 tbs butter/margarine, 1 (6 oz.) pkg. semisweet chocolate pieces, 1/3 Basic sugar syrup (to Follow).

Melt butter over hot (not boiling) water.

Remove from heat before the water boils. Add chocolate pieces to butter over hot water and stir until melted, blended and thick. Add Basic Sugar Syrup gradually, stirring after each addition until blended. Mixture will become glossy and smooth.

Remove from hot water and cool until of a spreading consistency. Spread thinly over cake. Apply quickly by pouring a small amount at a time on top of cake; as it runs down on sides, spread with spatula. Frost top of cake last.

BASIC SUGAR SYRUP: 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water.

That's it! You can refrigerate this syrup and keep it handy for frosting or to sweeten beverages.