A few weeks ago, I gave nonstop tours of Henry Street Settlement (my place of employ) to nearly 200 visitors during Open House New York and, in a moment of insanity, invited my children and their others to dinner that night. When I arrived home at 6:30, the DH was in the midst of a pasta cooking frenzy, but something was missing -- dessert. And so, fortified by a cocktail, I decided to whip up a simple chocolate cake I knew would please all.
I chose an oil-based (instead of butter) cake because I didn't have time to let the butter come to room temperature. (There's a way to do this in the microwave, but I've never quite mastered that skill.) One sacrifices a bit of flavor when making an oil cake, but the mouth feel, moistness and ease of preparation of these cakes can't be beat.
The layers are not gorgeous straight from the oven. That's what frosting is for. Luckily, I had some vanilla buttercream left over from a previous cake foray, but if you don't, it's not hard to make.
Sprinkles add a festive touch.
Below are the DD and her fiance Josh, enjoying the cake. (Note the Henry Street coffee cup.)
The method on the card (probably from the 1950s) is a bit unclear, but here's what I did.
Place the sugar, baking powder, baking soda and flour in a bowl. Set aside.
I melted three ounces of unsweetened chocolate and set it aside. (If you use cocoa powder, a better and easier choice should you have it on hand, add it to the bowl with the dry ingredients.)
In a mixing bowl, place the oil, eggs, vanilla and milk. Blend. Add the dry ingredients and blend. Add the boiling water and melted chocolate and blend again.
Pour into two 9-inch greased and floured baking tins. Bake and frost.
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A reader just pointed out that this recipe is identical to that on the Hershey's cocoa can. Here's the method they use (a bit less complicated than mine):
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely
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