Ingredients:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine sugar and flour and sift into large bowl (sifting is necessary to ensure a smooth cake). In a saucepan, combine butter, cocoa, oil and water; bring to a boil and add to the flour mixture. Stir to blend.

Combine buttermilk, eggs, soda, cinnamon and vanilla and mix with other ingredients. Stir only to blend well.

Pour batter into a greased and floured 9x13-inch baking pan and bake at 400 degrees for 18 to 22 minutes or until the cake tests done.

Once the cake is in the oven, make the icing by combining butter, cocoa and milk in a saucepan; bring to a rapid boil. Add powdered sugar (a little at a time), vanilla, and nuts if you are using them. Spread on hot cake when you remove it from oven. Icing will harden fairly quickly so it is important to time completion of the icing with when the cake comes out of the oven.

Delicious with vanilla ice cream and/or a tall glass of cold white milk!