HANUKKAH GELT DOUBLE FUDGE CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Lightly grease (2) 9-inch layer pans and line with parchment paper circles.
• In a large mixing bowl, blend sugar and oil.
• Add eggs and mix until well blended and mixture is thick and lightened in texture.
• In a separate bowl, stir together flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and cocoa.
• Fold dry ingredients into wet- and mix- drizzling in cola as mixture blends.
• If using an electric mixer, use slow speed and mix about 3 minutes, scraping sides and bottom once to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
• This is a thin batter.
• Bake, on middle oven rack, 35-40 minutes, until cakes spring back when lightly touched.
• ICING: Cream melted chocolate, shortening, butter and vanilla with cocoa and 1 cup of the confectioner's sugar.
• Add remaining confectioner's sugar and whip on high speed, adding in a bit of water, cola or half-and-half to get a light, fluffy consistency.
• If not using right away, re-whip before using.
• Add additional warm water to get correct consistency (a tablespoon at a time).
• DECORATING: Place one layer on a cardboard circle.
• Ice this with about 1/2- inch of frosting.
• Place top layer and ice cake- sides first.
• Coat sides with colored sprinkles.
• Garnish bottom edge with coins.
• Garnish top with coins- placing them either flat on top of cake or standing up (You may cut some of the coins in half to garnish border of top layer).
• Place a couple of miniature dreidels in centre if desired or Chanukah candles (can be lit when menorah is lit).