Step 1

Preheat regular, conventional oven to 350°.

Step 2

Beat sugar, butter & vanilla in large bowl.

Step 3

Beat in eggs.

Step 4

Mix in cake flour, baking cocoa, soda, salt, chocolate pudding and buttermilk.

Step 5

Stir in semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Step 6

Pour into greased tube pan.

Step 7

Bake in regular, conventional oven at 350° for 30 minutes.

Step 8

Adjust baking temperature down to 325° and continue baking 30-40 minutes more, until cake tester comes out clean.

Step 9

(Check with cake tester at the one hour mark.)

Step 10

Cool cake completely before icing.

Step 11

Heat water, butter and vanilla together in sauce pan on stovetop until melted.

Step 12

Remove from heat.

Step 13

Stir in one cup cocoa.

Step 14

Stir in powdered sugar, sifted.

Step 15

Stir in heavy cream, up to 3 tablespoons (or more) until you get the desired consistency.

Step 16

Ice cake by filling the hole in the middle of the cake first, then spread icing over cake top and pour over the sides. Icing will harden as it cools.