Name: Chocolate Buttermilk Squares
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 15 servings
Ingredients: 1 cup butter, cubed; 1/4 cup baking cocoa; 1 cup water; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 2 cups sugar; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup buttermilk; 2 large eggs, room temperature, beaten; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 3 to 4 drops red food coloring, optional; FROSTING:; 1/2 cup butter, cubed; 1/4 cup baking cocoa; 1/4 cup buttermilk; 3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; Dash salt; 3/4 cup chopped almonds, optional

Every time I take these squares to a potluck, my pan comes back clean. At home, they vanish as fast as I make them. —Clarice Baker, Stromsburg, Nebraska

Ingredients

1 cup butter, cubed

1/4 cup baking cocoa

1 cup water

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 large eggs, room temperature, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 to 4 drops red food coloring, optional

FROSTING:

1/2 cup butter, cubed

1/4 cup baking cocoa

1/4 cup buttermilk

3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dash salt

3/4 cup chopped almonds, optional

Instructions

1 In a large saucepan, bring butter, cocoa and water just to a boil. Cool.

2 Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Add cocoa mixture and buttermilk; mix well. Beat in the eggs, vanilla and, if desired, food coloring. Pour into a greased and floured 15x10x1-in. baking pan.

3 Bake until set, 20 minutes. For frosting, melt butter with cocoa and buttermilk. Stir in the confectioners' sugar, vanilla and salt. Spread over warm cake. Garnish with nuts if desired.