Chocolate Birthday Cake

Name: Chocolate Birthday Cake
Prep time: 40 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American, World Cuisine
Ingredients: 4 sticks salted butter, plus more for greasing; 8 heaping tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for dusting; 4 c. all-purpose flour; 4 c. sugar; 1/2 tsp. salt; 2 c. boiling water; 1 c. buttermilk; 2 tsp. baking soda; 2 tsp. vanilla extract; 4 large eggs, beaten; 3 c. cups heavy cream; 24 oz. ounces semisweet chocolate, broken into pieces; Candies, for decorating