Granny's Chocolate Icing

My mother has used this recipe for years. It makes a "hard" icing; the icing gets firm quite quickly, so you have to work fast. The original recipe came from "Winning Seasons", a cookbook from the Junior League of Tuscaloosa, Al, in 1979. You can substitute 4 tablespoons cocoa for the unsweetened chocolate, if necessary. I usually use it on a sheet cake, rather than layers.

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Yields: 1 9x13 pan

Ingredients

• 2  cups sugar
• 1⁄2 cup  whole milk
• 2 (1 ounce)  unsweetened chocolate squares
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄2 cup butter

Directions

1. Put all ingredients, except the vanilla, in a large pot. Bring to a boil over low to medium-low heat, stirring constantly.
2. Let the mixture boil for 1 minute.
3. Remove from heat and add the vanilla.
4. Beat until it reaches spreading consistency.
5. Spread on cooled cake quickly.