Fudge Ribbon Cake (with cream cheese ribbon and chocolate icing)

Ingredients

  • FOR THE CAKE:
  • 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 cup margarine, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups milk, divided use
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • FOR THE CHEESE MIXTURE:
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • FOR THE CHOCOLATE ICING:
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1 (6 ounce) package chocolate morsels
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cups sifted powdered sugar
  • For best results, all ingredients should be room temperature.

Preparation

Step 1

TO MAKE THE CAKE:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9-by-13-inch pan.

Combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add margarine and 1 cup of the milk. Blend at lowest speed in electric mixer, then beat 1 1/2 minutes at low speed. Add remaining Cake ingredients, including the remaining 1/2 cup milk. Beat 1 1/2 more minutes at low speed.

TO MAKE THE CHEESE MIXTURE:
Cream butter, 1/4 cup sugar and cornstarch until fluffy. Add remaining ingredients for the cheese mixture and beat until creamy.

Spread 1/2 cake batter in prepared pan. Spoon on cheese mixture, carefully spreading to cover. Top with remaining cake batter.

Bake 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool.

MEANWHILE, MAKE THE CHOCOLATE ICING:
Bring 1/3 cup milk and 1/4 butter to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat; blend in chocolate morsels, 1 teaspoon vanilla and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and creamy.

Spread evenly over top of cooled cake.