Comfort Food for the New Year

Here at Sassafras House, we celebrated the end of 2007 by putting Mama's new square baking dish to work to make chocolate fudge pudding cake. I wanted a square baking dish pretty much for this cake alone. The recipe is from Cooks' Country and it's a no-fail warm and tasty treat on a cold evening. Guaranteed comfort food (now served in my lovely warm red dish).

1 cup sugar
½ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ cup milk
4 tablespoons butter, melted (I use salted butter......if you use unsalted, add ¼ teaspoon salt)
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup chocolate chips
1 cup boiling water

Place your oven rack in the middle of the oven and then preheat to 350 degrees. Spray an 8 inch square baking pan with non-stick spray. Whisk ½ cup sugar with ¼ cup cocoa powder in a small bowl.

Whisk flour, remaining ½ cup sugar, remaining ¼ cup cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk milk, butter, egg yolk, and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth. Stir the milk mixture into flour mixture until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips (the batter will be stiff).

Using a rubber spatula, scrape the batter into the prepared pan and spread into corners. Sprinkle the reserved cocoa mixture evenly over the top of the batter. Gently pour boiling water over the cocoa layer. Do not stir.

Bake for 25 minutes. When the cakes come out of the oven it will look cracked and there will be sauce bubbling. Cool on a rack for about 10 minutes. To serve, scoop the warm cake into individual bowls. Top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and your little boy will give you a hug.

Happy New Year!