INGREDIENTS for Cake:

• 4 ounces German's sweet chocolate
  
• 1/2 cup red food coloring (2 small bottles)
  
• 2-1/2 cups flour
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
  
• 2 cups sugar
  
• 4 egg yolks
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 1 cup buttermilk
  
• 4 egg whites, stiffly beaten
  
• Cream Cheese Frosting (below)

TO PREPARE Cake:

Melt the chocolate with the food coloring in a small saucepan.  Sift the flour, baking soda and salt together.  Cream the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until light and fluffly.  Add the egg yolks, vanilla and chocolate mixture and mix well.  Add the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk, beating well after each addition.  Fold in the egg whites.  Pour into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until the layers test done.  Cool in the pans for 10 minutes.  Invert onto wire racks to cool completely.  Spread Cream Cheese Frosting between the layers and over the top and side of the cake.

           
INGREDIENTS for Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
  
• 1 (1 pound) package confectioners' sugar
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• Milk

TO PREPARE Cream Cheese Frosting:

Beat the cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl until smooth.  Add enough milk 1 Tablespoon at a time to make of the desired spreading consistency.

YIELD:  4-1/2 cups

SERVES:  12

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