Chocolate Amaretto Cake

So, I wanted to make a special treat for father's day, and decided to add a twist to it.  I took traditional Hellman's Chocolate Birthday cake and turned it into a really great Ameretto cake, according to the family.

Cake
2 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1-1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. baking powder   

 3 eggs

1-2/3 cups sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise

1- cups water

1/3 Cup Amaretto Liquor

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and lightly flour (I dust with cocoa instead of flour) two 9-inch round cake pans*; set aside.

2. In medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and baking powder; set aside.

3. In large bowl, with electric mixer at high speed, beat eggs, sugar and vanilla for 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise at low speed until blended. Alternately beat in flour mixture with water, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Pour into prepared pans.

4. Bake 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. On wire racks, cool 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely. Frost, if desired, or sprinkle with confectioners sugar.

*Or, prepare cake mix as above in 13 x 9-inch baking pan and bake 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Frosting

½ c. unsalted butter (1 stick)

2/3 c. cocoa powder

3 c. confectioners’ sugar

1/3 c. milk (use cream for an oh my gosh good richness)

1 tsp. almond extract

DIRECTIONS:

1. Melt the butter in a medium bowl. Stir in the cocoa. Alternately add confectioners’ sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla.