Heat oven to 350.

Prepare 8 - 9 inch baking pan

Whisk together in a medium bowl the first 4 ingredients. if you cocoa powder is still chunky after whisking, use a sifter.

Mix butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add eggs and vanilla, mixing well.

Dump flour mixture into wet ingredients all at once and stir until just moistened.

Pour water over top of batter, stir until smooth Pour into prepared pan, bake until toothpick at center comes our clean, about 30 -35 minutes. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes, then remove from pan.