German Chocolate Delight

2 c sugar
1/2 c American cocoa
1 c buttered flavored shortening
3 eggs
1 t salt
3 c flour, sifted
1 c milk
1 T dark vinegar
1 T vanilla
1 t baking soda
2/3 c hot tap water
cooking spray such as
Pam
Icing
4 c powdered sugar
1 c butter flavored shortening
1/4 c walnuts, chopped
1 T vanilla
2/3 c coconut, chopped
1/3 c american cocoa
1/3 c milk
1/4 c walnuts, chopped garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and generously spray 4 8" baking pans with cooking spray.

With electric mixer, cream together sugar, cocoa, shortening, salt, eggs & vanilla. Beat mixture 3 minutes.
Add vinegar to milk to sour, add to mixture & beat 1 minute.
Add sifted flour & beat for 3 minutes. Dissolve baking soda in hot tap water & add to batter, beat for 1 minute.

Pour batter equally into baking pans and bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove pans from oven & place on cooling racks for 30 minutes before icing the layers.

Icing: With mixer combine powdered sugar, shortening, 3/4 cup walnuts, vanilla, milk, cocoa & coconut & beat for 2 minutes.
Place each layer on cake plate one at a time, distributing the icing evenly on top of each layer. Garnish the top layer with remaining walnuts.