For the cake:
2 cups white sugar
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 sticks (1 cup) butter
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 cup water
1/2 cup buttermilk (or 1/2 cup milk mixed with 1/2 tablespoon vinegar or
lemon juice, mixed together and left to set for 5 minutes)
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 400ºF. Mix together the sugar, flour, soda, and
cinnamon. Meanwhile, melt the butter, cocoa, and water in a small
saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour over the flour mixture and mix well.
Beat together the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla and add to the rest,
mixing well. Pour into a well buttered 18"x24" pan. Bake for about 12
minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean (it might take a little
longer). Cool completely before frosting.
For the fudge frosting:
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) butter
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
5 cups powdered sugar
3 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup lightly toasted walnuts (optional)
Combine the butter, cocoa, milk, and instant coffee in a small saucepan.
bring to a boil. Add vanilla. Beat in powdered sugar. It should be thin
and smooth. Working quickly, mix in the marshmallows and nuts and pour
over cake. It it's too thick it will be hard to spread. Add more milk if
you need to.
