I’ve been living a lie … a lie that I don’t love chocolate.
I’ve denied it a thousand times.
But it’s just not true.
I do love chocolate.
What I’m coming to understand is that I love chocolate when it’s really good chocolate.
Then you read these stories about conventional chocolate trade and production. “Conventionally grown cocoa is one of the highest pesticide-using crops out there,” which not only puts the consumer at risk, but the farmers are exposed to such great levels of toxins. I find it difficult to know that and not think about it at the grocery store. Not to mention the high fructose corn syrup, artificial coloring, artificial flavor, et al, that you find in conventional chocolates.
But what if I still love chocolate?
And what if I found the perfect (I’m not kidding here) recipe for chocolate cake?
Wouldn’t you want a piece?
Wouldn’t it be wrong of me to not share it?
Right. That’s what I thought.
So here it is …
From Sally’s Baking Addiction.
And I don’t know that I can say enough good things about this deliciousness … except that I did swap out canola oil for coconut oil. And I used organic/fair trade cocoa and coffee. And unrefined sugar. And sea salt. And when it came to the frosting, I used salted pasture butter instead of unsalted. Less sugar. More cocoa. And a dash more vanilla.
Why I can’t just leave well enough alone, I don’t know … but I’ll say this … we’ve made this cake THREE times in the past month.
The first time it was for our very dear friend Buzz’ birthday and we decorated it with mini dark chocolate chips and sea salt. The big crunchy sea salt addition was pretty spectacular, if I don’t say so myself
The second time, we made a little loaf version for our friend Laurie’s birthday and we decorated it with shaved dark chocolate and sea salt.
This last time, (which was sort of a … we-have-to-bring-dessert-to-a-cookout-and-we-have-nothing-to-bring-so-let’s-make-that-excellent-chocolate-cake-since-we-have-some-chocolate-left”) we used peanut butter chips … just to mix it up. And more than a few times I had to shoo the children away from plucking those little peanut chips from the cake, which suggests it might have been a good choice!
So if you’re in the market for the best homemade chocolate cake … ever. Check out Sally’s. It may not be the most nourishing dessert I’ve ever made. But it’s way up there on the delicious chart. Way up. Like Top 5.
Sincerely,
Confessed-Chocolate-Lover-Jeanne
What are your go-to desserts? What do you bring to the family cookout?
