Simple Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting

I made this cake couple of days back and it was an instant hit. Yes, it is finger licking good. I was a ready made cake mix person till I discovered the joys of baking a cake from scratch. So, ready for the recipe? Here goes. 

Ingredients:

Cake

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp baking soda
• A pinch of baking powder
• 1 1/2 cup whole milk (not skimmed)
• 1 tbsp white vinegar
• 2 tsp vanilla essence
• 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder 
• 90 gms butter 

Frosting

• 50 gms butter
• 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder 
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 cup powdered sugar 
• 2 tsp vanilla essence

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes prior to baking. 
2. Grease a ban with butter and keep aside. 
3. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda and baking powder. 
4. In another bowl, whisk the egg into the milk. Add milk, vinegar and vanilla. 
5. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and cocoa powder, mixing in till it's fine and smooth. 
6. Switch off from the stove and pour it into the flour mixture. Mix well.
7. Pour in the milk mixture and mix well till you get a fine, rich batter. Make sure there are no lumps. 
8. Pour it into the greased pan and bake for 30 minutes till the cake is set (check the center of the cake with a knife. If it comes clean, then it means that the cake is done).
9. Start preparing the frosting when the cake has almost done baking. 
10. Melt cocoa powder, butter and milk over medium heat till it has melted. Switch off when it starts to boil and mix in the powdered sugar and vanilla essence. Feel free to taste it and add more sugar if required.
11. Pour it on top of the hot cake. 
12. Allow the cake to cool down before slicing (the frosting will set after 25-30 minutes).

The cake before frosting 

The chocolate frosting

Because if you are like me, it is hard to wait for the cake to actually cool down. 

Slurp!

Recipe adapted from Cookies and Cups. 

Snickerdoodle Mug Cake

I know that I have been MIA on this blog for more than couple of months. The reason is that I was busy writing on my other blog, taking up the A to Z challenge for the month of April. Anyway, thanks to all those friends who kept reminding me to update here (a special thanks to PeeVee!). I shall try and post more regularly from now. 

Anyway, I posted this one my FB page and quite a few of you wanted to know the recipe. Of late, I have been crushing on cinnamon and sugar and incorporating it where ever I can. So, me being me, I knew I had to make a little something that doesn't call for too much of an effort. 

This is a mug cake. So all you need are a few ingredients and your favorite coffee mug. Mug cakes are perfect for those instant sugar cravings that you have. You don't get any leftovers and it can even be shared :) Do try this out as it can be made easily with all the ingredients commonly found in your kitchen. 

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons all purpose flour (maida)
• 2 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (finely powdered)
• Milk/ water to mix 
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
• Salt- a pinch

For layering/ topping:

• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (finely powdered)

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon until finely combined. 
2. Blend in butter, milk/ water, butter and vanilla essence till you get a thick, smooth batter. 
3. Now pour in a large spoonful of batter into your microwave-safe coffee mug, alternating with spoonfuls of cinnamon sugar. Keep repeating till all the batter has been poured in. Sprinkle the final layer of cinnamon sugar on top. 
4. Microwave for 2 minutes (keep checking in between) till the cake is done. Allow it to cool for few minutes before serving.

Notes:

1. Feel free to check the batter for sugar before baking. You can add an extra spoon if you feel like it. 
2. I used water for my recipe, you can substitute it with milk if you feel like it.
3. The temptation to dig in immediately afterwards is far too high. Make sure you don't burn your tongue (I did) as the smell of cinnamon sugar baking is heavenly!

Recipe adapted from Five Heart Home.