Friday, February 4, 2011

Chocolate "Ugly" Cake


I've been wanting to make this cake for months, ever since I saw it on 101 Cookbooks (which is a fabulous website, by the way). It was adapted from Nigella Lawson's cookbook How to be a Domestic Goddess. I haven't tried it yet, as it just came out of the oven and you are supposed to let it sit overnight, but I will post about the taste once I have it tomorrow. It is a rather unattractive cake, but it smells absolutely amazing.

Chocolate "Ugly" Cake, adapted from 101 Cookbooks, and Nigella Lawson's How to be a Domestic Goddess

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
1 2/3 cups loosely packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 oz semi-sweet chocolate, melted
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons boiling water

Preheat oven to 375, butter a loaf pan and line with parchment paper (I buttered the parchment paper, as well, but I think that was probably unnecessary).
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Cream butter until light and fluffy, then add in sugar and beat until fully incorporated. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add in vanilla. Stir in chocolate until just combined, and then add 1/3 of flour mixture, stir, and 1/3 of water alternatively until everything is incorporated. It will be incredibly soupy, but that's alright.
Pour into pan and bake for 30 minutes (I did 28 with my convection oven). After 30 minutes at 375, turn down to 325 and bake for another 15-18 minutes (I baked for 16).
Let loaf cool on a wire rack, and eat the next day.
Update: Just had some of it... absolutely the best chocolate cake I've ever had, and I really dislike chocolate cake normally. Will definitely be making this again!

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