Well of course you need a cake to celebrate the birth of a new baby! I wanted to make this recipe because it sounded & looked good, not to mention it didn't make a whole bunch of cake. There were only four of us and while we could eat a layered cake, we're all not as young as we used to be! This is another reason why I love this cookbook, it's designed for smaller mouths so all the recipes don't make a lot. Yeah, yeah I know you can divide recipes in half, but sometimes I don't want to think and I just want to eat.
Easiest Chocolate Cake
1 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
sprinkle of salt
1 large egg
3/4 c. white sugar
1/4 c. vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 c. milk
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Grease and flour the sides of the round metal pan. Line the bottom with a round of parchment or wax paper.
3. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a bowl and mix.
4. In another bowl, use a whisk to stir the egg, sugar, vegetable oil and vanilla until smooth.
5. Still using the whisk, stir spoonfuls of the flour mixture and splashes of milk - switching between the two - into the sugar mix. Stir until smooth.
6. Use a baking spatula to scrape the batter into the pan. Bake about 50 minutes. Cool completely.
7. To unmold the cake, run a dinner knife twice around the edge. Set right-side-up on a baking rack to glaze and ice/glaze using your favorite recipe.
Yield: 1 8" cake
Recipe obtained from: Kitchen for Kids: 100 Amazing Recipes Your Children Can Really Make. (aka - my new favorite cookbook!)
My thoughts: I ran out of flour while making this and ended up using about 1 1/4 c. The cake was a little flatter as a result but didn't alter the taste or anything else at all.
To ice the easiest chocolate cake I went with my Grandma's famous caramel icing. It wasn't a party in our family without her chocolate cake & caramel icing! So here it is, my Grandma's famous caramel icing recipe - enjoy! This is my favorite icing...ever!
Caramel Icing
1/2 c. margarine (or butter)
1 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. milk
1 3/4 - 2 c. confectioners sugar
1. Melt the margarine in a saucepan and add brown sugar. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add milk and continue stirring until the mixture comes to a boil. Remove the saucepan from heat and cool. When the mixture has come to room temperature add the confectioners sugar.
*Add more milk if you add too much confectioners sugar.
** Caramel icing isn't really pretty to look at, but I promise you it tastes delicious!!
And of course the real reason for cake & celebration - baby Brynn!! Seriously one of the most adorable babies! Congratulations to K & J and their happy new little family!
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