Craving a slice of decadent chocolate cake that melts in your mouth?
Forget dry, crumbly disappointments!
This guide unveils the secrets to baking a perfect chocolate cake, starting with the essential ingredients and the magic ratios that transform them into a chocolate masterpiece.
What You'll Need
Alright, let's gather what you'll need to whip up these awesome chocolate chip cookies! I want to make sure you grab 1 ¾ cups of plain flour, a teaspoon of salt, and ½ a teaspoon of baking soda. You've got this!
Now, hunt down 175g—that's 12 tablespoons—of unsalted butter, and cut it into small cubes, like you're building a tiny butter castle! Next, I usually grab half a cup each of brown and caster sugar.
Grab an egg and an egg yolk. And don't forget the vanilla– make sure you have 2 teaspoons. Last, but def not least, I add 1 ¼ cups of chocolate chips. To enhance the chocolate experience it's best to use high-quality cocoa powder. I like to separate them a bit that way, I get to sprinkle some on top for extra pizzazz! Ready to bake?
Mixing the Batter
Now that we've got all our ingredients ready, it's time to get our hands a little dirty and mix up this batter! First, in a large bowl, I whisk together 1 3/4 cups of flour, 1 tsp of salt, and ½ tsp of baking soda.
In a separate, microwave-safe bowl, I melt 12 tbsp of butter. It usually takes about 40 seconds – don't fully melt it!
- Imagine the butter halfway melted, glistening and ready to blend.
- Think of me whisking in ½ cup of brown sugar and ½ cup of white sugar – sweet perfection!
- Picture me adding 1 egg, 1 egg yolk, and 2 tsp of vanilla extract. This blend will help create the cake's moistness.
Next, I pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. I fold in 1 1/4 cups of chocolate chips. Try not to eat them all now! I know, it's hard.
Finally, I let the batter stand for 5 minutes. Trust me, it's worth the wait! This will help it firm up, or refrigerate a little. I can't wait to bake!
Baking Instructions
Once the batter's rested—we're ready to bake some cookies! I preheat my oven to 350°F (180°C). Make sure your oven rack is in the middle – we don't want burnt bottoms, yikes!
Line your baking trays with parchment paper; it saves you from scrubbing later. Large cookies should go 2 inches apart, and smaller ones? Let's say 1.75 inches.
Large cookies need 8 minutes, a quick tray rotation, then 3 more minutes. Small cookies – a speedy 6 minutes, turn, and then 3 more! Watch for golden edges and a pale top.
Now, cool them right on the tray. They'll seem puffy but don't worry, they'll settle. And voila! You've got cookies. I love how easy it is to bake this recipe. Let's hope you enjoy baking and eating them!
Serving Suggestions
I've found serving these cookies is just as fun as baking them – if you can resist sneaking a bite straight from the cooling tray, that is! Honestly, who can?! Warm or cold, these cookies are amazing any time. Wanna kick things up a notch? I do!
Consider these ideas:
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream melting oh-so-deliciously over a warm cookie.
- Drizzle with melted dark chocolate for an extra chocolaty kick.
- Pair your cookies with a cold glass of milk for a classic, comforting treat!
They're perfect for parties, movie nights, or just a simple after-school snack. It really is all up to you! Make them special – add your special touch! I'm sure you can come up with something!
Short Recipe Version
Chocolate Cake Recipe (Concise)
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
Serving Size: 12
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Beat until combined.
- Gradually add boiling water, mixing until batter is thin.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let cool completely before frosting.
Nutrition Information (per serving, estimated):
- Calories: 350-400
- Fat: 15-20g
- Saturated Fat: 5-7g
- Cholesterol: 35-45mg
- Sodium: 250-300mg
- Carbohydrates: 50-55g
- Sugar: 35-40g
- Protein: 4-5g