Cake Making

I like chocolate cake....they are tenderly and rich with aroma......

Chocolate Cake Ingredients

For this recipe, you will need:

• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 3 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup oil
• 2 eggs

Getting Your Cake Right

Before you begin baking, it is important to make sure all your ingredients are room temperature. If you are making a layer cake, it is actually better to bake it in a deeper pan instead of in two pans; this way the cake will remain moist, though you do have to cook it for a little longer. Begin by preheating the oven to 350. Grease your baking pan with vegetable shortening or spray oil.

Sift the Flour and Cocoa

The first step is to sift the flour and the cocoa before measuring. If you do not have a sifter, put the flour through a sieve before measuring. It is easy to let the sifted flour drop onto a sheet of wax paper, which you can then pour into a measuring cup. Do the same with the cocoa powder. When sifted, these ingredients become lighter. This means that you will actually be using a little bit less flour and cocoa, and your cake will come out fluffier.

Precisely Measure the Ingredients

When baking, it is important to measure your ingredients carefully. This is different than cooking, where you can substitute spices and change measurements and still come out with a great result. If you do not measure carefully, your cake will definitely suffer.

Mix the Cake Ingredients

Put the sifted flour and chocolate together in a large bowl. Now you will add the baking powder. Instead of just dumping it in, pinch the baking powder between your fingers. This will remove any lumps, and ensure smoother batter. Now, mix all of these ingredients together. When measuring liquid ingredients, always use a glass measuring cup. This allows you to look more carefully and make sure you have the exact right amount. Add the vanilla, milk, oil, and eggs to the dry ingredients.

The best way to mix together the cake batter is with an electric hand mixer. If you do not have one, you can use a whisk instead. Beat the cake batter until all of the lumps are gone and it is completely smooth. Now, transfer the batter to the greased pan.

Bake the Chocolate Cake

Now, put the cake in the oven and bake it until you can stick in a fork and it comes out clean. The baking time will vary, depending on the size of the pan. Start checking on the cake after about 25 minutes. Let the cake cool before removing it from the pan. If you want a layer cake, slice it in two using a long bread knife.