Extra Dark Chocolate Snack Cake

I am obsessed with these little snack cakes.  Just a single layer cake made in a 8 X 8 square cake pan or a 9 X 9 round cake pan.  Topped with a decadent frosting, they are the perfect size for an any day indulgence.  The combinations of cake and frosting are endless. So look forward to more of these little snack cake recipes in the future. #snackcakesunday

This Extra Dark Snack Cake with Nutella Frosting is literally chocolate overload – in the best way possible.  it is a wacky/crazy cake that has no eggs or milk and is quick and easy to make.  The star of the cake is black cocoa which has such a distinctive rich taste.  It has 3 tablespoon of dutch processed cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon of black cocoa powder which takes it to a whole new level of chocolate. I bought my black cocoa at a bulk food store that sells lots of baking supplies, but it is available on Amazon, just search black cocoa. 

The Nutella Frosting turns out light and fluffy and is delicious!  I took two separate ¼ cup portions of the finished icing out and put them each in separate bowls.  Then added 1 teaspoon of Nutella to the first ¼ cup and 2 teaspoon of Nutella to the other ¼ cup.  Mixed them up well and this gives you the different colors of icing to spread on the cake.  Alternate putting spoonsful of each frosting on to the cake and pat down using a spatula (or even clean hands) to get the multi color shades of chocolate. I also drizzle some Nutella on top of the finished cake.

I typically only frost the top of my square snack cakes because they can be picked up to be eaten as finger food.  Perfect for a bbq or casual gathering.  You have got to give these little cakes a try. Straight forward easy recipes for any day baking because “life begins when you realize you don’t need an occasion to bake a cake”.

Recipe

Extra Dark Chocolate Snack Cake

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Ingredients

  

• 1 ½ cup flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon black cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 6 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 cup water

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Grease a 8 X 8 square or round cake pan.
• In the cake pan combine the flour, sugar, both cocoa powders, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
• Add the vinegar, vanilla and oil.
• Add the water and stir.
• Bake for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Recipe

Nutella Frosting

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Ingredients

  

• ¾ cup butter, softened
• ¼ cup Nutella (or other hazelnut spread)
• 2 cups icing sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt (ONLY if using unsalted butter)

Instructions

 

• Beat butter and Nutella until combined. (about 1 minute)
• Add 1 cup of the icing sugar and beat until combined.
• Add remaining cup of icing sugar and beat until fluffy. (about 2 minutes)
• Add vanilla and continue to beat until combined.
• If you want swirls of Nutella you can add an additional spoonful of Nutella and give it a quick stir.
• For a marbled effect remove 2 separate ¼ cup portions of the finished frosting. Mix 1 teaspoon of Nutella into the first ¼ cup portion and 2 teaspoon of Nutella to the second ¼ cup portion. Alternate adding the three different icings on to the cake and pat with a spatula. Drizzle with more Nutella.