100 g/4 oz butter or margarine
100 g/4 oz lard (shortening)
250 ml/8 fl oz/1 cup water
25 g/1 oz cocoa (unsweetened chocolate) powder
225g/8 oz/2 cups plain (all-purpose) flour
450g/1 lb/2 cups caster (superfine) sugar
120 ml/4 fl oz buttermilk
2 eggs, beaten
5 ml/1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
A pinch of salt
5 ml/1 tsp vanilla essence (extract) |