Vanilla cake with chocolate fudge frosting

It's my grandma's 87th birthday! Yup, 87 and can still beat you at needle point poker.  Now, being someone who cannot pass up a Sunday without baking even if she just got back from attending a friend's wedding, I decided to take the easy route and just whip up some chocolate fudge frosting rather than make buttercream.

Also, I added some lemon zest to the cake for a burst of freshness.

Vanilla Butter cake

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans

3/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for pans

3/4 cup cake flour

1/2 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cups

2 large eggs

zest from half a lemon

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 9-by-2-inch round cake pans; line the bottoms with parchment paper. Butter parchment, and dust with flour, tapping out excess; set aside. Into a medium bowl, sift together flours, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then beat in vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk and beginning and ending with the flour; beat until combined after each addition.

Divide batter between the prepared pans, and smooth with an offset spatula. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until cakes are golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool 20 minutes. Invert cakes onto the rack; peel off the parchment. Reinvert cakes and let them cool completely, top sides up.

Chocolate Fudge Frosting

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup cocoa powder

2/3 cup evaporated milk

2 tbsp water

1 tbsp flour

1/4 tsp vanilla

pinch of salt

2 tbsp butter

Mix all ingredients with a wire whisk and cook over low heat  until thick. while stirring continuously.  This will take about 5-7 minutes. Once it arrives at the right consistency, turn off heat and add the butter. Whisk until butter is melted.