Simplicity Chocolate Cake, a vintage recipe for a Sunday afternoon

Chocolate cake is always such a special treat, and everyone needs a simple and fast chocolate cake recipe in their repertoire, don't you think? It has been very hot here this weekend, and after a siesta following lunch I woke up craving some chocolate cake, but realising there was nothing sweet  in the house to eat. Mr. HRK had also turned the coffee machine on so he was obviously thinking of a special afternoon tea as well.

 I've been meaning to bake this recipe of my Mum's for a long time. It was a very easy and economical cake to make which she often baked when I lived at home, but is probably a bit small as a round cake by modern day standards, however today I baked it in a loaf tin which was perfect for Mr. HRK and me. It makes  two nice sandwich cakes by just doubling the recipe. It took about 15 minutes to prepare and mix and then only 40 minutes to cook. Because we were in such a hurry to try it, I iced it when still warm which isn't what I usually do but it was delicious. I also added about 1 1/2 tablespoons of dark chocolate chips to the batter because I was feeling needy, and these worked a treat.

Ingredients:

1 cup S.R. flour
1 small cup sugar ( a teacup size)
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 1/2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips (optional)



Method:

1. Put all the ingredients, except the chocolate chips into your mixing bowl together and beat until well combined and glossy.
2. Carefully mix the chocolate chips into the batter by hand (This step can be eliminated)
3. Spoon the cake mixture into a well greased  round cake tin or a loaf tin, depending on the occasion you are baking for.
4. Cook for 40 minutes in a moderate oven, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Test it after 30 minutes though just in case.

This mixture can also be made into patty cakes. Just spoon a tablespoon of the mixture into 1 dozen patty cake tins. These small cakes were called patty cakes in Australia before they all became cup cakes.

Just iced while still warm

 Prepare a chocolate icing whilst the cake is baking. I just make a very simple icing using about 2 cups of  icing sugar sifted with 2 tablespoons of cocoa, some melted butter and some milk. Start with small quantities of melted butter and milk and just keep beating and adding to the icing sugar until you get the icing consistency you want. I prefer icing that spreads across the top of the cake quite thickly and doesn't run down the sides. The cake needs to be quite cool though for this to occur.

So to any dear friends who read this, do you have a simple family cake recipe that you resort to when you just need some cake to eat at home when you feel like indulging? Is Sunday the day that you often feel like indulging in a nice afternoon tea?

Best wishes

Pauline xx

An original recipe by Pauline +Happy Retirees Kitchen