Buttermilk Mexican Chocolate Chile Bundt Cake

Today is National Hot and Spicy Day! Add chocolate and chiles and you've got a celebration! I adapted this recipe for Buttermilk Mexican Chocolate Chile Bundt Cake from Southern Living. I've added ground chiles and used Taza Mexican Chocolate with Chiles for a little more kick. I also like the Vosges Red Fire Exotic Chocolate Bar or the Chuao Firecracker Bar. I usually bake this pound cake in a bundt pan. This is quick and easy and delicious.

Buttermilk Mexican Chocolate Chile Bundt Cake

Ingredients
8 oz chopped dark (65-75% cacao) organic fair-trade chocolate (I use either Taza Chipotle Chili Chocolate Mexicano or Guajillo Chili Chocolate Mexicano, but you can use any dark chocolate or the two chocolate bars I mention above)
1 cup sweet butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1/2 cup chocolate syrup
2 tsp Mexican vanilla
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ancho chiles
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk 
Optional: Powdered sugar for dusting

Directions
1. Melt chocolate in saucepan over saucepan of simmering water.
2. Beat butter at medium speed with electric mixer 2 minutes or until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating 5 to 7 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears after each addition. Stir in melted chocolate, chocolate syrup, and vanilla until smooth.
3. Combine flour and next 4 ingredients; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Pour batter into a greased and floured 12-cup Bundt pan.
4. Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 to 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack, and let cool for another hour. Dust with powdered sugar (optional)