• Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Grease cake pans using shortening or butter. Lightly flour pans and set aside.
• Microwave chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl, using 30 second increments, stirring after each 30 seconds until chips are melted.
• Using a mixer, cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each. Using a rubber spatula, add melted chocolate and mix just until blended.
• In a medium bowl, mix together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt & cinnamon with a fork. Alternate adding ⅓ flour mixture and ⅓ buttermilk to wet ingredients until all of both ingredients have been added, starting and end with flour. Mix just until blended after each addition.
• Mix on low while pouring in hot water. Add in vanilla. Continue to mix until blended.
• Add ⅓ batter to each greased pan. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on cooling rack.

White Chocolate Buttercream

• Chop white chocolate. Place in microwaveable bowl with 2 tablespoon of half and half. Microwave in 15 second increments until chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir after each 15 seconds. The chocolate will continue to melt when stirred. Do not overheat the chocolate.
• Using a mixer, whip butter until smooth. Add confectioner's sugar 1 cup at a time until all has been added. Using a rubber spatula, add the white chocolate. Add vanilla. If frosting is too thick, add another tablespoon of half and half. Beat on medium speed for 3 to 4 minutes until frosting whips up smooth and creamy.

Frosting the Cake

• Place 1 cake layer on a cake pedestal or platter. Top with large dollops of buttercream. Spread to edges. Repeat with second cake layer. Top with third cake layer. Add several large dollops to top of cake. Using an offest spatula, frost top and sides of cake with remaining buttercream. Add sugar pearls to sides of cake for a finished look.