Gran Gran's Chocolate Sheet Cake

This recipe is from my grandmother who we affectionately called Gran Gran. With a hint of cinnamon in the cake and thick, chocolaty icing on top...it definitely gets two thumbs up! Plus it only takes 30 minutes from start to finish-and that includes icing!

Chocolate Sheet Cake

In a small saucepan on stove:
1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
1/4 c. shortening (I usually just leave this out or substitute butter)
3 Tbsp. cocoa
1 cup water
--Heat until dissolved.

Combine the following in a separate bowl:
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon

Add:
1/2 cup buttermilk (or milk with 1 Tbsp. vinegar. Let sit 5 min.)
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
--Mix together and add saucepan mixture. Bake in a sprayed sheet cake pan for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Ice with icing while hot.

Icing:
1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
3-4 Tbsp. cocoa
4 T. buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup nuts, optional
3-4 cups powdered sugar
--Mix until very thick and creamy!