Chocolate Berry Layer Cake

Ingredients:

2 eggs
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup strawberry preserves or jam
1 pint strawberries, hulled and halved


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour two 9 inch cake pans. Beat eggs and sugar in a mixing bowl until thick and light colored. Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.

2. Add oil, buttermilk and vanilla to flour mixture: mix until blended. Fold in egg mixture. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes.

3. Remove cakes, cool on wire racks. Spread preserves on bottom layer, cover with top layer. For frosting, beat whipping cream with cocoa, icing sugar and vanilla.

4. Spread frosting over top of cake: cover loosely and chill until serving time. Decorate with strawberries just before serving.

*Compliments of Easy Everday Cooking.