Chocolate Buttermilk Cake

I love to make these "from-scratch" cakey brownies. They are rich in chocolatey goodness, but have a very unique flavor that everyone loves but no one can seem to pinpoint. I'll tell you - it's buttermilk. No matter where I'm going or who is in attendance, these brownies disappear very quickly. Enjoy!

Cake Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
4 tbs cocoa
1c water
2c flour
2c sugar
1tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1/2c buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla

Frosting Ingredients
4 tbs cocoa
6 tbs buttermilk
1/2c (1 stick) butter
1 box (3 3/4 c) powdered sugar
1c chopped pecans

To make the cake
Bring the butter, cocoa and water to a boil. Remove from heat. Add the flour, sugar and soda; mix well. Add the eggs, buttermilk and vanilla. Mix well; spread onto greased sheet pan and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

To make the frosting
While the cake is baking, bring hte cocoa, buttermilk and butter to a boil. Remove from heat and add the powdered sugar and nuts.

Spread the frosting on the hot cake.

NOTES: I've found that I need to start the frosting about 5 minutes before the cake comes out of the oven. If your house is too hot to cool the cake/frosting sufficiently, put it in the fridge for 30-45 minutes - works like a charm!