Fudgey Chocolate Cake

This is the cake base I made for my birthday cake from yesterday's post. It is a really quick and easy recipe, and makes just one layer. It is a fudgey and dense cake, that is quite rich and a bit heavier, so it will go further than a light, tender cake recipe. It needs only a bit of icing or topping, chocolate ganache works well. 

Fudgey Chocolate Cake
1 cup all-purpose (plain) flour
1 cup granulated (white) sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup butter or hard margarine, softened
1 cup milk
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350◦F. Grease and flour an 8-inch round baking pan.
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, cocoa, and baking soda. Add remaining ingredients and beat to moisten. Beat on medium speed for two minutes. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.