Description
This Small Chocolate Cake is a moist and rich dessert made with cocoa powder and a touch of hot water to enhance its texture. Perfectly sized for 6 servings, it’s simple to prepare with common pantry ingredients and baked to perfection in about 35 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (50g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup (120ml) milk
- ¼ cup (60ml) vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120ml) hot water
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line your 6-inch or 9-inch cake pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined and aerated.
- Incorporate Wet Ingredients: Add the egg, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry mixture. Beat thoroughly until the batter is smooth and uniform in texture.
- Add Hot Water: Gradually pour in the hot water while stirring continuously. This thins the batter, which helps create a moist and tender cake.
- Pour and Bake: Transfer the batter into the prepared cake pan(s). Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean indicating doneness.
- Cool the Cake: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes to set, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting or serving.
Notes
- You can use either a 6-inch or 9-inch cake pan; baking time might vary slightly accordingly.
- Ensure the hot water is not boiling but hot; this helps activate the cocoa flavor.
- The batter will be thinner than usual, but this is expected for a moist texture.
- Make sure the cake is completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- For a richer flavor, consider adding espresso powder to the dry ingredients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
