Tuesday 19 July 2011

Super moist chocolate cake

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Sorry I have been MIA for a while. Work caught on pretty well and the fact that I was  am on a diet made me stay away from fancy cooking. Although I had tonnes of posts in my drafts, I wasn't in the mood to sit and pen down a whole blog post, edit the pics etc etc and it came to a point where I wasn't even signing into blogger and checking in on my fav bloggers. So if I haven't visited you guys in the near future, it is because of random stuff like this. 
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I hadn't baked in ages, and somehow wasn't even having any withdrawals this time. But yesterday, we had a lil something to celebrate and I fell prey to the husbands nagging for a chocolate cake. Like I have mentioned loads of times before, I actually don't like chocolate that much. And every time Ro bugs me for a choc cake, I bake my moms easy Beat & bake chocolate cake which takes no time and you get the desired effect.
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Was a bit in the experimenting mood yesterday, but not so much as to spend hours googling and grocery shopping, and so decided to head over to Marias Menu and borrow her recipe this time. Of course it was extremely moist like she said and pretty easy to put together as well. I didn't do the ganache or any frosting, since my love for plain cakes still rule. Even though I have restricted my in take to about one slice, the husband has been gorging on it non stop. So while I chew on those salads and fruit, you can go ahead and enjoy this yummilicious chocolate cake.
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Recipe adapted from here
Milk- 1 1/2 cups
Butter- 100 gms 
Oil- 1/4 cup
Cocoa powder- 1/2 cup 
All purpose flour- 1 cup
Baking soda- 1/2 tsp
Baking powder- 1/2 tsp
Granulated sugar- 250 gms
Egg- 1 large
Vanilla extract- 1 tsp
Salt- 1/4 tsp
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Pour into a sauce pan the milk, oil, butter and cocoa powder. Mix together on medium low heat till the butter completely melts. Keep aside to cool, stirring in between.
Into a mixing bowl throw in flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt. Whisk to combine.
Add the beaten egg and vanilla extract followed by the wet ingredients.
Whisk/ beat well to combine all the ingredients. There shouldn't be any traces of flour visible. The batter would be really loose, but not to worry.
Pour into a 9 inch pan lined with baking paper, and place in the middle shelf of an oven pre heated at 180C for 45 to 55 minutes.
If making cupcakes, then reduce time to about 15 to 20 minutes.
Do the skewer test at around 45 minutes and then continue if required.
Take it out of the oven, let it rest for about 10 minutes and then turn it onto a cooling rack and leave it there till it cools down completely.
Slice and serve with some vanilla ice cream or store in an air tight container.
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Notes: I added vanilla extract, because I like the vanilla taste in chocolate cakes.
Add self raising flour if you have it and omit the salt and baking powder from above.
The cake is not really sweet (for my liking at least) so it would pair really well with some ice cream. A ganache frosting would also be sufficient
The cake cracked a whole lot on top and since im used to it now, i didnt panic. I turned it over and sliced it. hence the neat surface :)

59 comments:

Unknown said...

Absolutely love it. Even I have this one of Maria bookmarked :)

Radhika@foodfor7stages said...

The texture of the cake speaks thousand words and I know this is one of the nicest chocolate cake recipe.
Third pic with the fork looks pretty.

Foodie Ann said...

That looks absolutely gorgeous Nisha...:). Pictures speaks volume...

Unknown said...

May be i should start with urs to get back to the blog world! Cake look extra moist and soft, wat a nice way to celebrate little happiness with tower of choco cubes! back lighting effect is amazing and that pink cloth, i want to steal them! :)

schmetterlingwords said...

The choc cake looks absolute moist and soft. The pictures are fantastic. Those perfectly cut slices are just popping out of the monitor. Would love to swallow a few of them. Nisha, inspite of all these, you are still on diet?? I appreciate your resolution girl :)

Rinku Naveen said...

That name is perfect. Looks super moist indeed. Ooh would love to grab a piece..Too good Nisha

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Lovely looking chocolate cake. Looks so soft and inviting. lovely recipe.

Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi

Anonymous said...

I'm tempted to go make this right now!

Prema said...

Perfect Chocolate cake,luks so delicious...

Vimitha Durai said...

Looks so delicious and inviting... would love to have a big bite...

Sravs said...

perfectly baked cake !! looks so soft and tempting clicks !!

Ongoing Event - CC-Roti Pachadi/Chutney

Miriam Korula said...

oh....that looks like a super moist cake....have been meaning to try it ever since i saw maria's snaps n' post....i'm on a baking spree these days for some reason n' like u, I prefer the cakes plain....n' this looks like it will be a great cake eaten plain....:)

Anonymous said...

Very rich & luscious looking chocolate cake..even though I dun love chocolate that much, I wanna grab a piece!

Nitha said...

Looks like it is busy/lazy time all around.. :) the same here too..

BTW the cake looks great.. Now let me bookmark this as I am in the spree of decorating cakes..

Nithya said...

Damn delicious :) I don't mind trying n number of chocolate cake recipes for my chocolate love :)Bookmarked.

Cant miss to mention your food photography is awesome as always. love the set up and the way you have arranged the cakes :)

Gayathri Ramdas Sreekanth said...

Oh my my..I feel like crying since I am on diet mode too this week! This looks totally decadent and sinful !! :(

Indian Khana said...

Looks so perfet n moist ....n fab pics

Unknown said...

Soft moist and chocolately yumm it looks....Have bookmarked it to try soon :)

QembarDelites said...

Wow! This looks like my kind of cake too, no frosting, just the plain delicious cake:D Pity I am on a diet too!

Kajal said...

These look nice and moist. can't wait to try them! :)

Kulsum said...

That cake does look moist and awesome. I have Friend from Kerala and she makes an amazing chocolate cake. But she won't share the recipe :-D This looks like it!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Nisha for posting it here :) As I said before the pics look awesome!

Binys Recipes said...

oooo yum yum...who will want to diet after looking at the pics...love the simple presentation with dusted icing sugar

Santosh Bangar said...

lovely cake make me hungry to eat it

chef and her kitchen said...

cakes looks nice n moist...looks really delicious

Anh said...

The cake looks absolutely delicious!

Unknown said...

OMG! absolutely delicious...beautiful clicks too

Love II cook said...

lovely. i loved ur petite ornated forks too.

Sashquatch said...

This looks truly fabulous! Cant beat a good classic chocolate cake especially when its as gorgeously moist as this :)

Suja Manoj said...

Classic one,super moist and tempting.

Priyanka said...

Wow......thats lovely.
M so tempted :)

Prathima Rao said...

Super delicious & moist chocolate cake!!
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner

Manju said...

im due for a chocolate cake..lol!! Ohh my! this one looks soo good too..sadly im at work now and can't even make it now. But I sso badly want to eat something chocolate that I think i'll go down to the deli and get a chocolate muffin..something! :)

Sobha Shyam said...

OMG, amazing dear..wish i could grab one from the pic..lovely recipe..

Cool Lassi(e) said...

ooohhhh...they make my toes curl! Super moist and super tempting cake squares. Umm umm good and your pictures aren't helping much either! Thanks to you and Maria for sharing/posting the insanely wonderful and tempting chocolate cake!

Mary Bergfeld said...

This is a gorgeous cake. I'd love to have a slice of it with my coffee. It looks moist and delicious. You have such a lovely blog. I've really enjoyed the time I spent here. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

Raks said...

The texture is too good and your clicks say that in every pixel! Lovely clicks and recipe!

KitchenTherapy said...

they look to die for. love chocolate and love cake.
so chocolate cake is ultimate win :)

Anonymous said...

Did u say you don't like chocolate ?? I don't think you are weird but my friends think I am cause I don't like chocolate much .. unless I am eating a chocolate like like yours .. plain simple .. moist and zero frosting!
I think I might just bake a cake now :)
www.sunshineandsmile.com

QembarDelites said...

I love the look of these moist chocolate squares.....decadent and bare, just like how I love my cakes:)

aipi said...

This looks fantastic ~ love how neatly you have cut the slices :)
US Masala

Tina said...

super super super dear...

Plateful said...

Ahh, ooey, gooey, moist cake! Absolutely decadent! I'd seen this at Maria's and wanted to try it, now I know for sure. Gorgeous pictures, as always, Nisha! I simply love them, I mean your pics... ;)

Sarah said...

wow! i absolutely admire u for resisting this amazing cake!

Umm Mymoonah said...

Just feel like grabbing one piece, looks moist and yummy!

notyet100 said...

Ummm cake looks so yum

Monet said...

This chocolate cake looks just about perfect right now. Thank you for sharing with me tonight. Another lovely and delicious post! I hope you have a wonderful start to your week, my friend. Many blessings!

Sushma said...

loely cake recipes. bookmarked

Anonymous said...

Yummmo....chocolate cake looks awesome.... so soft n moist. And perfect squares with amazing photography.

Sanchita said...

Yum yum yum...feel like having these right now..

Sushma Mallya said...

Yummy this looks so moist and lovely ...very lovely recipe:)

Taste Melanger said...

I too am in love with plain cakes. the whole concept of sugar laden frosting puts me off. And this looks quite moist indeed, so will surely give it a try!!

Gargi said...

Hi Nisha,

I tried the cake and it turned out really yummy.

The only weird thing was that the cake had a somewhat distinct appearance in the middle (long threads). This did not affect its texture or taste, but just wondering why it did that.

Thanks for the great recipe :)

Gargi

SpicyTasty said...

Definitely super moist. Bookmarked.

Aps Kitchen said...

Lady!!!! Ur block rocks... its lovely :)
The cake here looks so moist n yummmmmm

myrtle said...

Great! the looks absolutely delicious and moist.=)
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Pavithra Elangovan said...

OH my god love those cute fluffy chocolate blocks.. Loving ur pictures.. wish I can grab a piece right from the picture.

Kulsum said...

I can imagine how busy life gets sometime. But this cake looks perfect!

Unknown said...

It's a lazy afternoon for me and I came across this recipe. I didn't think twice and just jumped right into my pantry and decided to make this cake. It took me less than 15 mins to get the ingredients together and put the cake inside the oven for baking. The cake is baking as I'm writing this comment. Thank you for making me bake! :)