Chocolate Cake – An old classic with a new twist!

It is my husband’s birthday today and I decided to bake him a cake. This recipe is a combination of a chocolate cake that my mother used to bake and a ‘Devil’s Food Cake’ recipe found on the packet of King Arthur Whole Wheat Flour. 

Ingredients

Whole wheat flour – 1 ½ cups (All purpose flour can be used too)

Cocoa powder – ½ cup

Baking powder – 1 ½ tsps

Brown Sugar – 1 cup + 2 tbsps (super fine white sugar/confectioner’s sugar will also work)

Milk – ½ cup

Vinegar – ½ tbsp

Olive oil – ¼ cup + 1 tbsp (any cooking oil/ 100 grams butter will do)

Coffee decoction / black coffee – ½ cup (optional)

Vanilla extract/essence – 1 tsp

Eggs – 2
Salt – 1 pinch

Method

Add the vinegar to cold milk and keep aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Sieve together all the dry ingredients and place in a large mixing bowl. Pour in oil/melted butter and the milk (which will now be curdled) and mix well.  Add the vanilla, eggs and coffee and salt. If you do not want to use coffee, take 1 cup of milk instead of the ½ cup mentioned here. Coffee enhances the chocolate flavour and who wouldn’t like more chocolate right?

Mix well and pour into a greased cake pan. Tap the sides of the pan to release air bubbles, if any. Bake for 30-35 minutes. 

Frosting

I followed the method but not the quantity.

Ingredients (makes 2 cups approx)

Butter or margarine – ½ cup (1 stick)

Cocoa powder – 2/3 cup

Powdered sugar – 3 cups

Milk – 1/3 cup

Vanilla extract – 1 tsp 

Method
Melt the butter and stir in the cocoa. Add the powdered sugar and milk, alternatively, while beating the mixture. Beat until it forms a nice spreadable icing. Add a bit more milk if the icing feels stiff. Stir in vanilla. Slather the icing on the cake and make sure you refrigerate it else the icing will not solidify. 

I love the idea of serving fresh fruit with dessert, hence the strawberries on the plate. I used a bundt pan because I like the shape. You can of course use the pan of your choice. Bon Appétit. 

Link to original frosting recipe - http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/184/HERSHEY%27S%20%22PERFECTLY%20CHOCOLATE%22%20Chocolate%20Cake.aspx