Decadent Chocolate Cake
This cake has been a major highlight in our family. Chocolate and cake being 2 of my favourite things definitely make this hit the spot every time. But beyond that is the fact that we had many iterations before I arrived at this specific recipe.
It was mostly inspired by a Filipino lady I met in 2010 whose chocolate cake turned my life around. Hers became my go-to recipe, and I tweaked the sugar content a bit by using a mix of white and brown sugar for that extra oomph. Other than that, I give full credit to Mrs. Gonzalvo for introducing me to this moist gooey yummy chocolate cake that has literally touched almost every life that has been in contact with mine.
While there’s a chocolate ganache recipe embedded here, I sometimes top it with cream cheese frosting, buttercream frosting or simply sprinkle the top of the cake with powdered sugar and serve with a cup of hot tea or warm milk :-)
You know you want to try it…. Go on then…..
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook/ Bake Time: 45 mins
Ingredients:
for the chocolate cake
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1.5 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup chocolate powder (cocoa)
1.5 tsp. baking powder
1.5 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 large eggs
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup corn oil (or sunflower or vegetable oil)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
PROCEDURE:
Heat oven to 350 F (176 C or #6 oven mark). Grease & flour 9 inch round baking pan.
Tip: I put parchment paper or back paper at the bottom of the pan to avoid the cooked cake from sticking.
Mix all dry ingredients & sift in a large bowl.
Add in eggs, milk, oil & vanilla extract. Beat in a stand mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes (or by hand until well blended)
Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Beat on slow speed for 1 minute until well combined. Pour into pan.
Bake for 30 – 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes, remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely.
for the CHOCOLATE GANACHE
Melt 4 tbsp butter in a double broiler
Add 6 tbsp chocolate powder and mix well
Add 1/2 evaporated milk
Add 1/2 cup condensed milk (you may add more condensed milk if you like it sweeter)
Stir and mix thoroughly
Cook until thick
Lastly, pour the chocolate icing mixture while hot on the top of the cake until it covers the whole cake. Spread evenly.
PS: Photos below show the same chocolate cake with a buttercream chocolate frosting and chocolate ganache, topped with (white and dark) chocolate dipped strawberries. Buttercream frosting recipe coming up later in a separate post.