03Mix cocoa and boiling water, stir until smooth, set aside to cool.
04Sift dry ingredients together, set aside.
05In a large bowl beat butter sugar, eggs and vanilla together.
06Alternately beat in the dry ingredients and the chocolate mixture.
07Beat just until blended, do not overmix.
08Pour batter into the three greased pans and bake for about 30 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
09Remove cakes from oven and allow them to set for 3-5 minutes.
10Remove from pans and cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
11Prepare filling by beating together cream, confectioner's sugar and vanilla until stiff.
12Set aside.
13Prepare frosting by melting the butter and chocolates together over low heat.
14Stir in the cream and mix until smooth.
15Remove the pan from the heat and place it in a large bowl filled with ice.
16Using an electric hand held mixer or a whisk (trust me, the electric mixer will be much easier), beat in the confectioner's sugar until the frosting holds a stiff shape.
17Chill.
18Before you put the cake together, make sure that everything has completely cooled.
19Divide the filling in two and spread it between the layers.
20Frost sides and top with the chocolate icing.
21Don't worry if some of the filling oozes out the sides while you are frosting them, just mix it into the frosting.