Ingredients
Cake Ingredients:
1 cup flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar
Dash of salt
¼ cup (½ stick) butter
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
½ cup water
¼ cup buttermilk
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting Ingredients:
¼ cup (½ stick) butter
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
3-4 tablespoons milk (adjust for consistency)
½ cup chopped pecans
2 cups powdered sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175°C). In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, sugar, and salt. Set aside.
In a 10-inch cast iron skillet, bring butter, vegetable oil, cocoa powder, and water to a boil.
Remove from heat and whisk in the dry ingredients well.
Mix in the buttermilk, egg, and vanilla extract.
Bake the skillet cake at 350 degrees F (175°C) for about 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
While the cake cools slightly, make the frosting. In a medium saucepan, bring butter and cocoa powder to a boil.
Remove from heat and add the icing sugar, pecans, and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
Pour the frosting over the warm cake and spread with a spatula.
Serve warm with vanilla bean ice cream, caramel sauce (optional), and whipped cream (optional).