Preheat oven to 350.
Sift together the following dry ingredients and set aside.
1 ¾ cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
Heat in saucepan on stove:
2 sticks butter (I often do part cocnut oil, just 1 cup total of butter and cocnut oil)
⅔ cup cocoa powder
1 cup water
Bring to boil and then cool and pour over dry sifted ingredients.
Mix and add:
½ cup buttermilk (if don't have buttermilk, stir 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice or vinegar into 1/2 cup milk and let sit for a few minutes)
2 beaten eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Pour into large pan ~13"x18" cookie sheet. Bake for 22-28 minutes or until cake springs back nicely.
Make frosting and pour/spread over the cake while warm.
Frosting (make in saucepan on stove):
1 cup Butter (could substitue some of the butter with coconut oil)
Stir the following into the melted butter:
½ cup cocoa
⅓ cup buttermilk (if don't have buttermilk, stir 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar into 1/3 cup milk and let sit for a few minutes)
3 ½ cups powdered sugar (add more as needed, not more than another cup)
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Pour over chocolate cake while warm.