Fudgy Chocolate Layer Cake

My oldest decided that he needed to have a birthday cake that was themed around a dirt bike. As I searched the internet for something that I could do on my own this one popped up on my screen... I thought that I could tackle it and I was excited about how it turned out!! He thought it was pretty cool too and it didn't even take as much effort as some of our other cakes have taken... plus this recipe was delicious!! We used whoppers for the rocks, pretzel rods for the course and fruit roll ups for the banners...

Fudgy Chocolate Layer Cake
(dirt bike idea found here)

1 3/4 cups flour
1 cup less 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cups brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Frosting and Garnish
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powder sugar, sifted
3 ounces (3 squares) unsweetened chocolate, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Line bottoms of two 9" round cake pans with waxed paper. Grease paper and side of pans. Dust with flour. Mix flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, beat butter, sugar and brown sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. At low speed, alternately beat flour mixture and buttermilk into butter mixture just until blended. Divide batter equally between prepared pans. Bake cakes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Transfer pans to wire racks to cool for 10 minutes. Turn out onto racks. Remove paper. Turn layers top side up and cool completely.

To prepare frosting, beat butter and powdered sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add melted chocolate and vanilla; continue beating until shiny and smooth. Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread frosting on top and side of cake. Let cake stand for at least 30 minutes before slicing.