Chocolate cake

My favorite chocolate cake recipe:

Ingredients -
DRY:
3 cups of flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup caster sugar
2 tbsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

WET:
1 cup cooking oil (or melted butter)
2 cups water (or coffee/milk)
1 tbsp vanilla essence
2 tbsp vinegar


CHOCOLATE SYRUP:
2 cups chocolate milk
1 tsp vanilla essence (or coffee essence)


FILLING:
1 cup buter
2 cups icing sugar, sifted
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup whipped cream
1 tsp vanilla essence (or coffee essence)
2 tbsp vodka/brandy/liquer (optional)


ICING:

1 cup whipped cream
1/2 cup cocoa powder
a dash of vanilla/coffee essence, and/or vodka/brandy/liquer


STEPS:

THE CAKE - PART 1
1. Sift all dry ingredients together.
2. Add wet ingredients into dry, and mix thoroughly.
3. Bake in two baking tins at 180C degrees for 30 mins, or till done.
4. Cool on rack till completely cooled.

THE FILLING -
1. Whip butter and icing sugar till blended.
2. Add cream and essences, and whip again till fluffy.

THE CAKE - PART 2
1. Split cakes into two; you will have 4 slices altogether.
2. Take first slice and place in baking tin.
3. Poke holes all over with fork/cake pin, etc.
4. Pour 1/4 cup of chocolate syrup all over cake slice.
5. Spread 1/3 of filling on top of cake slice.
6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 with remaining cake slices.
7. Press cake firmly into tin to make sure cake is absorbing syrup and filling.


THE ICING -
1. Whip cream till fluffy/ soft peaks.
2. Sift cocoa powder over cream, add essences and whip till fluffy.
3. Turn cake upside down onto a cake board/plate.
4. Pipe cake with icing or free-style ice your cake.
5. Sift cocoa powder all over cake.


TIPS: When cake is filled, prior to icing the cake, cake should be left under proper plastic wrap overnight in the fridge, to allow all flavors to come together.