Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a 10-cup bundt pan. If you are making a layer cake, grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, sugar and cocoa.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the vanilla, hot water, and mayonnaise until it looks like milk. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir into the flour mixture until well combined. Fold in the chocolate chips or nuts, if using.

Pour cake mixture into greased bundt pan. Cake batter should fill pan 3/4 of the way full. Bake in heated oven for 60 minutes until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Let the cake cool 10 minutes in the pan, then flip bundt onto a wire rack.

Dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar before serving.

Frost with your favorite cream cheese frosting or a chocolate buttercream frosting, if you made a layer cake. We like to serve slices from a bundt pan with a little bit of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on the side.

This easy chocolate cake recipe keeps well in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for several days.