Foolproof Cake of Any Flavour

This Foolproof Cake of Any Flavour takes away all the stress of baking cakes because it works everytime. The original recipe, in Portuguese, is called Bolo Fofíssimo de Qualquer Sabor, from Marilza Oliveira, and can be found on Facebook Group called Culinária Receitas.

I already made it with chocolate, with orange juice, with carrots and with cornmeal. My favourite is the orange one. I'm still to try it with lemon/ lime, but I'm sure I'll have to adjust the sugar for it.

Chocolate cake with sauce

Ingredients

• ·        03 eggs
• ·        1/2 cup cooking oil (I use canola or coconut)
• ·        1/2 cup water
• ·        1 1/2 cup sugar
• ·        02 Spoons vinegar (any type, but rice - I use apple vinegar)
• ·        02 cups flour
• ·        01 Spoon Baking Powder

Preparation

Put all ingredients in the blender or blend them with a wooden spoon - flour mixed with baking powder for last. Bake it in a pre-heated oven (180°C/ 350°F) for about 25 min.

Never open the oven for any cake before 20 minutes or it will deflate. Check it with a toothpick, if it comes out clean, the cake is ready.

Variations

• ·        orange cake: use OJ instead of water
• ·        mix chopped nuts to the batter
• ·        chocolate: just add a cup of chocolate powder to the recipe. If using sugary chocolate drink powder, put less sugar in the batter.
• ·        apple: add grated apple to the blender, or add apple pieces to the batter before filling the baking pan. Mix in some cinnamon powder. 

Cornmeal cake with walnuts and coconut

Enjoy it! Bon apetit!

Chocolate Cake in a Mug

The most delicious Chocolate Cake, baked in a mug, in the microwave for 3 minutes. So easy and fuss free, I highly recommend, no baking skills needed. No major conundrum in the kitchen. Just a mug and a couple of spoons to wash. It tastes better if eaten while still warm. This is a great 3am snack. Be aware of  whoever says "I don't want it". That person will immediately change his mind as soon as the baking  perfume travels across the room.

The original recipe for this chocolate cake in a mug is from Chef Mauro Rebelo, from my hometown of Niterói, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. If you want to check other delicacies in Portuguese,check his personal blog and Facebook culinary group.

You'll need:
- 1 egg
- 4 T milk
- 3 T oil (I use coconut oil for all my baking recipes)
- 2 T cocoa powder
- 4 T sugar
- 4 T all purpose flour
- 1/4 t baking powder
- 1 large mug (300ml/12oz ) or 2 smaller ones

How to prepare it:
Break the egg in the mug and beat it well with a fork.  Add oil, sugar, milk, chocolate powder and whisk more.  Add flour and baking powder mixing it lightly, just enough to incorporate.  Place it for 3 minutes in the microwave.

If you want to cover it in a chocolate sauce, use the following:

- 2 T milk
- 1 t butter (I used coconut oil)
- 1 or 2 T sugar
- 3 T cocoa powder

Mix it all and place in the microwave for 30 seconds. Cover the cake while it is still hot.

When measuring the ingredients, don't be "generous" with dry ingredients, use a leveled tablespoon or the end result can be a hard rock cake.

I am nuts for nuts, so I added some crushed walnuts to the batter and on top of the chocolate sauce. Hands down, this is my best cake to date. Do try it. Almost impossible to fail.

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