DEVIL DOG CAKE

Steps:

• To make cake:.
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter and flour a 9-inch square cake pan (2 inches deep).
• Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
• Beat together butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well, then beat in vanilla.
• Add flour mixture and water alternately in batches, beginning and ending with flour mixture and mixing until just combined.
• Pour batter into cake pan and smooth top, then bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes.
• Cool in pan on a rack 1 hour.
• Transfer cake to a cake plate.
• Make frosting:.
• Combine frosting ingredients with a pinch of salt in a metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water and beat with a handheld electric mixer at high speed until frosting is thick and fluffy, 6 to 7 minutes.
• Remove bowl from heat and continue to beat until slightly cooled.
• Mound frosting on top of cake.
• Dust with additional cocoa powder.
• Cooks' notes:.
• • Cake, without frosting, will improve in flavor if made 1 day ahead. Cool, then keep, wrapped in plastic wrap, at room temperature. Frost cake just before serving.
• • The egg whites in the frosting are not fully cooked. You can substitute pasteurized or reconstituted dried egg whites if salmonella is a problem in your area.