Fee Simple Fudge Cake

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup unsifted cake flour (or all-purpose flour)
  • 1 cup sugar (or 3/4 cup sugar, if you prefer a less sweeter cake) 
  • 3 ounces unsweetened baking cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened (or 1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil)
  • 2/3 cup milk (or almond milk)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons Kahlua coffee liquor (or Bailey's Irish Cream)
  • 1 snack size (3.9 ounces) unsweetened applesauce 
  • 1/2 cup ground mix nuts, for topping (optional) or 1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes, for topping 
  • Fresh raspberries, if using

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly spray a 9-inch by 3-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  • Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Mix together with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute.
  • In another bowl, cream softened butter with sugar until creamy; next add vanilla, Kahlua liquor and egg to batter.
  • Beat on high speed for 3-4 minutes until batter is light and fluffy. Add flour mixture and milk alternating in small portions and beating well after each addition.
  • Pour batter into pan and smooth out to level. Bake for 35-45 minutes (depending on oven) or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. 
  • Cool in pan for 5-10 minutes; release cake from spring form pan and cool completely on rack.

 

Comments:  Pass on the butter cream frosting and instead try grinding up some assorted mixed nuts with a dash of unsweetened cocoa powder in a coffee bean grinder for a few seconds and sprinkle over the cake for a nutty flavor. 

Note - In recent years I often top the batter in the baking pan with a small handful of sweetened coconut flakes just prior to baking (instead of using the nuts as a topping). You can also just lightly dust the top of the cake after it cools with confectioner's sugar (or freshly made whipped cream) and serve with raspberries on the side. This fudge cake is lower in fat than a traditional chocolate cake due to the use of unsweetened baking cocoa (instead of using melted baking chocolate) and unsweetened applesauce used in place of sour cream.