The 1 Bowl + 1 Pot = 2 Good To Be So Easy Chocolate Cake

This is an easy one bowl cake that can be dusted with powered sugar and served as is, or you can go the extra step and make the chocolate glaze. I have served it both ways - both are good.

Cake:
Adapted from Better Homes & Gardens, One Bowl Chocolate Cake

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup cooking oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 inch round cake pan with cooking spray (or grease and flour if you prefer).

In a large bowl mix all dry ingredients together. Add all wet ingredients and beat for 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

Cool cake 10 minutes, turn out onto a wire rack and let cake cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar, or coat with frosting/glaze (recipe below).

Glaze:
Adapted from the Thick Chocolate Glaze recipe found in The Joy of Chocolate by Judith Olney

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 tablespoons hot water
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/8 teaspoon salt (pinch)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 or so tablespoons powdered sugar (depends on consistency)

In small pot, combine chocolate, sugar, corn syrup and hot water. Whisk over low heat until smooth - let the mixture come to a slow boil and boil for 3 minutes. Take mixture off heat and stir in butter, salt, vanilla and powdered sugar. Stir until cooled slightly and mixture is a good spreading consistency. It is a glaze so it will not be thick like a typical frosting. Use a knife or and off set spatula to cover the sides first (some of it will drip down) then cover the top with the remaining glaze. The glaze will remin soft - it will not harden and become stiff, but it will set up.

Notes:

• Try to use good cocoa - actually, Hershey's Special Dark is pretty good and not as expensive as the others.
• Same goes for the chocolate in the frosting - the better the chocolate, the better it tastes.
• If you are not a purist when it comes to your chocolate cake, you could brush the cake with some seedless raspberry preserves before glazing it.

Don't forget to head back to the Dessert Carnival to check out the rest of the festivities (click on the picture).