The BEST Chocolate Cake EVER

Found this one on the web last winter at Kevin and Amanda's Recipe Blog, and yes, it's true. It is truly the best chocolate cake ever. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients (for the cake)

• 1 box devils food cake mix
• 1 package Jello instant chocolate pudding mix
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup veggie oil
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups mini semisweet chocolate chips

Ingredients (for the buttercream frosting)

• 1 cup Crisco
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
• In a VERY large bowl, mix together everything on the cake ingredients except the chocolate chips. Batter will be thick.
• Now stir in the chocolate chips.
• Pour batter into the cake pan of choice (I used two 9 inch round pie pans).
• For cooking time, I use the cooking times on the back of the devil's food cake box as a guide and usually add 10 mins to whatever it says.
• Then I do the toothpick check, and if t's not done, I check on it every 5 mins after that.
• It usually takes around 45 mins for two, 9 inch pie pans.
• In a separate mixing bowl, cream shortening until fluffy.
• Add sugar and continue creaming until well blended.
• Add salt, vanilla, and whipping cream.
• Blend on low speed until moistened. Beat at high speed until frosting is fluffy.
• Take the first cake out of the pan and put it on a plate. Frost the top of it.
• Put the second cake on top of the first cake and frost the top of that one.
• Then frost the sides.
• If you have any mini chocolate chips left over, you can sprinkle some on top and on the sides.