Step 1

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour the inside of two 8-inch round cake pans, or a 9x13-inch baking pan, or line two cupcake pans with paper liners. (Here’s how to prepare a pan so your cake will not stick.)

Step 2

Add the flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt to a large bowl and use a wire whisk to stir.

Step 3

In a small bowl or large measuring cup, add the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Use a fork or a whisk to blend together.

Step 4

Cut the butter into 12 pieces and add it to a medium size saucepan along with the cocoa powder, water, cinnamon, allspice, cloves or nutmeg, black pepper, and salt. Set the pan over medium heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the butter has melted and the mixture is smooth and bubbling around edges of the pan.

Step 5

Remove the cocoa mixture from the heat and pour it into the dry ingredients. Using a wooden spoon or a rubber spatula, stir just until everything is combined.

Step 6

Pour in the buttermilk and egg mixture and stir just until combined. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan or cupcake tin and place in the center of a preheated oven. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. If When done, a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake or one of the cupcakes will emerge without any raw batter on it.

Step 7

Remove the cake from oven, and set the pan(s) on a cooling rack. If you baked 8-inch round layers, allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then gently turn them out onto baking racks and allow them to cool completely before frosting. If you baked a 9x13-inch cake or cupcakes, allow the cake or cupcakes to cool completely in the pan before frosting.