Chocolate Cake {Best Scratch Recipe!}

Ingredients

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 2 2/3 cups sugar
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons unsweetened natural cocoa
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons water
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 5 large or 4 extra large/jumbo eggs
• ¾ cups water
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
• 1 box powdered sugar (1 pound or 454 grams)
• 3/4 cups cocoa (use Van Houten, Droste, or other dark, high quality alkalized unsweetened cocoa)
• A flavoring liquid (water, vanilla, rum, cognac, kirsch, or amaretto)
• 1 1/2 cup butter, firm, not cold, not too soft