Chocolate Cake

The nostalgic birthday cake of generations of Israeli kids is a very humble, one-layer chocolate cake topped with chocolate glaze and colorful sprinkles. It may not be as impressive as a theme decorated, or a multi-layer cake, but it's definitely a winner in the flavor category.

These classic cakes of our childhood were always homemade. In Israel, using a store-bought cake mix is not very common to this day. Baking this cake is one of those skills that you learned as a young parent when it's your child's turn to celebrate their birthday at the daycare and you are being asked to bring a cake.

The truth is that you don't really need to be an experienced baker to prepare a one-bowl chocolate cake recipe like the one we share here. Easy as the boxed mix, it would take you the same amount of time to make, and won't dirt more dishes. however, it would taste much better. Made with cacao powder, this cake has rich dark chocolate color and flavor. It's not as sugary and flat as boxed mix tends to be, it's soft and moist and it stays like that for days after it has been made. A winner - haven't we say?

Makes 1 cake

Ingredients

• 2 (280 gr) cups of all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup (70 gr) cacao powder (unsweetened)

• 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1 1/2 cups (300 gr) sugar

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 eggs

• 1 cup (240 ml) vegetable oil

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 1/3 cups (360 ml) boiling water

For the chocolate glaze:

• 100 gr chocolates

• 1/3 cup milk

Preparation

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease the baking pan.

2. In a large bowl stir together all dry ingredients - flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Add in the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer for 2 minutes.

4. Stir in boiling water (the batter will be thin).

5. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

6. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool.

7. Prepare the glaze: in a small saucepan melt the chocolate, stir in the milk, and mix until completely smooth.

8. Pour the hot glaze on the cake and top with sprinkles if desired.