Whenever I make this cake, it is always a hit. It looks very impressive but is pretty easy to make. I had a work do and decided I hadn't made it in a while and it needed to be made. (Sorry no pictures of the inside - you know I had to bring it work without it being sliced). Chocolate Blackout Cake (Adapted from 365 Great Chocolate Desserts ) 1T cocoa powder 1 1/2 stick butter 3 c sugar 3 t baking soda 1/2 t salt 3 c flour 3 eggs 1t vanilla 1t chocolate extract (optional) 4oz chocolate, bittersweet, melted 3/4 c buttermilk 1 c boiling water Ganache 18oz semisweet or bittersweet chocolate 1 1/2 c heavy cream 2 T butter 1 t vanilla 3/4 - 1 c sliced almonds Grease two 10" round pans. Place parchment round in bottom of each pan. Dust with cocoa powder. Shake out excess; set aside. Cream butter and sugar together in mixer until light and fluffy. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl mix together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. Add eggs one at a time t...