Happy Friday the 13th! To end treat week what better way to end it than with a simple easy homemade chocolate cake. Not just any chocolate cake however, this one is crusted with fudge cookies, topped with fudge icing and drizzled with warm caramel. How does that sound? Yeah I know – I love chocolate!!
I guess the good thing about this cake is that it’s super easy. I adopted this recipe from Anna Olson on The Food Network. This recipe actually has enough batter to create two cakes. You can choose to stack them with icing in the middle or make two cakes and ice them separately as I chose to do.
As I was taking multiple pictures of the cake to trying to get a good shot, some of the caramel started to drip, so I could not resist sharing this picture.
Craving chocolate for Valentine’s Day? Try this recipe! Be careful though, it may knock the socks off your loved one.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup water
- 4 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 1 3/4 cups pastry flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup sour cream (low fat)
- 1 cup fudge cookie crumbles
Frosting
- 2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
- 12 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped, melted and cooled to room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 1/2 cups icing sugar, sifted
- Caramel for drizzling
Method
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter and flour 2 9-inch cake pans.
- Cream butter and sugars together until fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
- In a small pan stir water and chocolate over low heat until melted. Allow to cool slightly before beating into butter mixture.
- Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir into batter alternately with sour cream.
- Divide evenly between the 2 pans and bake for 25-35 minutes, until a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Allow to cool 15 minutes in the pans, then turn cakes out onto a plate to cool completely.
Frosting
- Beat butter on high speed, scraping sides frequently, until light and fluffy.
- Add melted chocolate and mix in.
- Add vanilla, salt and icing sugar and beat until smooth.
- Spread icing on cake in whatever pattern you like and then coat the outside in the fudge crumbs by pressing them into the icing… it is messy but don’t worry – it will taste great.
Zesty Tip: Chocolate should only be melted over low heat. The microwave is a good appliance to use because the cooking time is so controlled. If you stand there at the stove and stir constantly, you can melt chocolate in a pan set over very low heat. A double boiler (watch out for condensation) is a good method; make sure the water in the bottom is barely simmering.
Well there you have it! I want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s day and I welcome your favorite chocolate cake in the comments. Have a great weekend and I will see you on Monday.
Take care
zesty
Related posts:
Like what you read? Would like to see more? Well you can subscribe here (for free) and always be in tune with zesty. Thanks for all your support and keep the comments coming. (We respect your email privacy)
Twitter
Rss
Digg
Taste Spotting
Food Gawker
Recipe Muncher
Food Buzz
Flickr
Whether it is about recipes, food techniques, food tips, or meal suggestions in a rush - this is your one stop food shop. When I was sitting at home - I always wanted to write a blog and help people in everyday life come up with innovative and different approaches to food. So here it is - released for all to see - I hope you enjoy!
Wow Zesty, that looks divine! I’m definitely going to have to put this on a “make list”. (And I love that luscious caramel drip!)
LOOOOOVE Food Network recipes and CARAMEL!!!
By the way, I have a question for ya – contact me when you have a moment (no rush!! I know you’re busy, as am I).
oh my god that looks awesome. Seriously amazing.
WOW! Look at that cake! It is amazing. It might just have to receive a HOLY YUM! Award. Happy Valentine’s Day Zesty!
You sure know how to make a girl drool! I want to reach through my screen and grab this.
YUMMM!! I need that!
This is dripping decadence!
Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day! Hehe, usually Friday the 13th is supposed to be scary, and here you are, making chocolate cake. When did you decide Friday the 13th should be Day of the Yummy?
Mmmmm, chocolate cake. Not that I need any more sugar this week!
holy cow. caramel sauce on chocolate cake? you betcha i’d love it!
Oh wow, that looks amazing!
Oh my!!!
How does that sound? Are you kidding me? It sounds absolutely perfectly wonderful. I could be so all over that in a matter of seconds. It looks perfect.
Wowzers, that looks yummy.
What a delicious looking cake! Perfect for this Valentine’s day weekend
Pet your family is excited to sample this baby!
*bet not pet!
Oh yum yum yum!!! Looks so professional
so divine.
Oh my greatness! What is NOT to like about that??!!!! YUM!
Oh YUM!!!!!! This looks incredible!!
Gorgeous! Come visit and bring the cake!
This looks AMAZING – I can never resist chocolate cake!
There really is nothing better than a good chocolate cake is there?? Caramel sauce probably put it over the top. This is a diet-breaker for sure
Oh my gosh, that looks divine!
GLORIOUS!! That drizzle…holy yum, Zesty! I had some chocolate cream pie this weekend…now I’m thinking I should have Zestified it instead!
That chocolate cake looks so good!
chocolate and caramel are two of my fav indulgences, and that pic is simply amazing!