Sourdough Chocolate Cake

By

Hands-on time:
15 mins. to 20 mins.

Baking time:
30 mins. to 40 mins.

Total time:
2 hrs 45 mins. to 4 hrs

Yield:
One sheet cake, 18 servings

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Ingredients

  • CAKE
  • 8 1/2 ounces "fed" sourdough starter
  • 8 ounces milk (whole milk or 2% preferred) or evaporated milk
  • 8 1/2 ounces Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
  • 10 1/2 ounces granulated sugar
  • 7 ounces vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 1/4 ounces natural cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
  • 1 teaspoon espresso powder, optional
  • 2 large eggs
  • ICING
  • 24 ounces confectioners' sugar
  • 6 ounces butter
  • 4 ounces plain yogurt or buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 1/2 teaspoons espresso powder
  • 1/2 ounce hot water
  • DRIZZLE
  • 2 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 ounce milk
  • 3/4 ounce corn syrup

Preparation

Step 1

1) Combine the "fed" starter, milk, and flour in a large mixing bowl. Cover and let rest at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours. It won't necessarily bubble, but it may have expanded a bit.

2) Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9" x 13" pan.

3) In a separate bowl, beat together the sugar, oil, vanilla, salt, baking soda, cocoa. and espresso powder. The mixture will be grainy.

4) Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

5) Gently combine the chocolate mixture with the starter-flour-milk mixture, stirring till smooth. This will be a gloppy process at first, but the batter will smooth out as you continue to beat gently.

6) Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

7) Bake the cake for 30 to 40 minutes, until it springs back when lightly pressed in the center, and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.

8) Remove the cake from the oven, and set it on a rack to cool while you make the icing.

9) Sift the confectioners' sugar into a large mixing bowl, and set it aside.

10) In a small saucepan set over medium heat, melt the butter and add the buttermilk or yogurt. Dissolve the espresso powder in the hot water, add to the pan, and bring the mixture just to a boil.

11) Immediately pour the simmering liquid over the confectioners' sugar in the bowl, and beat till smooth.

12) Pour the warm frosting over the cake. If you wait too long and the frosting stiffens up, spread it over the cake.

13) Combine the chocolate chips, milk, and corn syrup in a microwave-safe cup. Microwave till the chips soften, then stir till smooth.

14) Drizzle/drip the chocolate over the icing. You can do this while the icing is still warm, or wait till it's cooled.

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