Recipe: Chocolate Bundt Cake with Pink Clove Drizzle

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart. – Helen Keller

Now that's love. Photo: markpayne, Flickr ccl

I hope each of you is sharing at least part of today with someone you love and who loves you. There's no greater thing in the world.

Some of you will be going out to dinner, or to a movie, or both. Some of you will also be pulling out all the stops in creating a magnificent feast. Most likely some stage of your day will involve chocolate.

Photo: Wiki CC

Chocolate through history

Chocolate, from the cacao tree, was unknown in the Old World until contact was made with Central America by Europeans in the 1400s. The same is true of tomatoes and potatoes.

The cacao tree was worshipped by the Mayan  who believed it to be of divine origin. In their language, cacao meant "god food." This adoration of cacao continued through to the Aztecs as well. 

The word cacao was corrupted into the present-day "cocoa" by the Conquistadors. In fact, when they searched the defeated Montezuma's palace they didn't find much gold or silver, but instead plenty of cocoa beans.

Chocolate as an aphrodisiac

Chocolate has been used as an aphrodisiac since Mayan times. Mayan emperors would drink cacao mixed with chilli during religious rituals and to increase their fertility and sex drive. French courtesans used to feed chocolate to their lovers hoping for the same effect. The ritual of giving chocolate to loved ones continues to this day, in hopes of the same result... sort of.

The finished cake. Rich and chocolately...

Chocolate is good for you

Pure dark chocolate is full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.  Antioxidant-rich food effects include increased blood circulation, reduced cholesterol levels, and lowered risks of stroke and heart attack. The magnesium, iron, and vitamin B found in chocolate can also help in preventing other illnesses. 

So maybe the Mayans were onto something. You do have to be healthy to "carouse" properly. At the same time, all things in moderation...

If you're looking for a good dose of chocolate for Valentine's Day, your search is over. Don't resort to chocolates. Chocolates are still a favourite gift to give, but unless  1) they're really good chocolates, or  2) the recipient is a chocoholic they often don't go over with the bang that was hoped.

How about a rich chocolate cake, complete with pink clove glaze? If it sounds decadent it's because it is.  Yes, I hear you saying "it's only a cake", but it has hints of coffee in the batter and the clove glaze really sends it over the top.

This cake is a snap to make. There's no creaming of butter and sugar, or dividing of yolks and whites. It's not that those steps are difficult, but they do add time to the process.

This cake is in the oven in 20 minutes maximum. The glaze takes all of 5 minutes to mix together. If you have the time today give it a try. You'' fall in love with the result.

The batter in the sugar/cocoa dusted pan.

Chocolate Bundt Cake with Pink Clove Drizzle

Prep: 15 min  |  Cook: 45 min to 1 hour

1 tbsp cocoa mixed with 1 tbsp white sugar

2 cups sugar

1-3/4 cup white flour

3/4 cups cocoa powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

1 cup milk

1 cup plain yogurt

1 tbsp instant coffee

1/2 cup butter, melted

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350°F. 

This is what is meant by the cake pulling away from the
edge of the pan. It's a sign the cake is done, or nearly done.

Combine 1 tbsp cocoa with 1 tbsp sugar. Grease a bundt or other tube pan with butter and dust the inside with the cocoa sugar mixture. Shake out any excess and set aside.

Sift together the flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl. Set aside.

Combine the milk, yogurt, instant coffee, melted butter, and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Mix on low. Add the eggs one at a time and beat for 2 minutes. Then add the sugar 1/2 cup at a time and beat well after each addition.

Then slowly add in the remaining dry ingredients. Once combined, turn the mixer to medium and beat the batter for a further 5 minutes.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the cake begins to pull away from the sides of the pan and a cake needle inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate.

Depending on the pan you use, your time will vary. Start testing for doneness at 45 minutes just to be safe. If using layer pans, start testing at 30 minutes. (The pan I used took 1 hour 5 minutes.)

Allow the cake to partially cool on a wire rack before glazing. While cooling, make the icing and drizzle it on top of the cake. If you glaze it hot the drizzle will just run off.

Pink Clove Drizzle

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

1 tbsp white corn syrup

1/2 tsp ground clove

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

water and food colouring

Combine the first four ingredients in a bowl. Start with 1 tablespoon of water and continue adding a little at a time until you reach the consistency you want, then tint with red food colouring. Only add a drop or two of the food dye at a time and beat well to judge the final colour.

.......................................

If you like this post retweet it using the link at top right, or share using any of the links below.

Questions? Comments? Derogatory remarks?