What do normal people do with left over Merlot from a recipe? Drink it, of course. What Do I do? Make a decadent chocolate cake with Merlot and chocolate in the cake and in the frosting. I know many of you readers find that combination delicious, so I’ve done my best to accommodate you. I hope you like it.

Dry ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet ingredients:
2 sticks butter at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
3/4 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup red wine (like Merlot)
1 cup chocolate chips
3 eggs

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk
3 tablespoons Merlot (or other red wine)

Preheat oven to 350.

In bowl one, mix flour, salt, baking powder, and cocoa powder.

In bowl 2, cream butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar.

Add eggs and buttermilk and beat for two minutes.

Add red wine and beat.

Mix in dry ingredients in thirds and beat until smooth.

Fold in chocolate chips .

Butter and flour Bundt pan.

Add batter to pan.

Bake at 350 for 55 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean.

For glaze, mix all ingredients in bowl until smooth.

Top cake with glaze.