Today’s post really should be named Questions. What does this do? What does that do? It made me feel not very smart. I didn’t have the answers. I think we need to become Alton Brown students  because he is so good at explaining the purpose of each ingredient.

I have made this Too Much Chocolate Cake recipe once before with rave reviews. It is simple because it is made with a boxed cake mix and some extra additions. We were going up to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for family dinner and one of our jobs was to bring dessert. Since it is Little Chef D’s birthday coming up she thought this was HER birthday cake. Kind of, sort of. We do celebrate the birthday’s when we are all together and sing, but this cake did not need to be decorated like a birthday cake.

Little Chef A cracked the eggs. “What does eggs do anyway? Maybe it give it some type of texture. Oops I got a shell in there!” She then realized how hard it was to get a shell out of the bowl! After trying for a while she wanted me to take a turn.

Next she poured in the pudding mix and the cake mix.

The sour cream and oil followed next. After learning from making the German Pancakes she said, “It doesn’t matter if the sour cream and oil gets mixed in [the measuring cup]. It will anyway.”

Water was also added which prompted the question, “What does the water do anyway? It doesn’t have any flavor.”
After stirring for a minute Little Chef A said, “It still has lumps.” I got out the hand mixer to help. It is a pretty thick batter. “Oh, that’s a whole lot easier. I love this thing.” When I ejected the beaters into the sink she said, “That’s really cool!” I guess she has never seen that before. But I did impress her!

After pouring pouring the batter into the sprayed cake pan we realized we forgot the chocolate chips. In contemplating what to do. Little Chef A said, “That’s ok we don’t always have to follow the recipe.” So we didn’t. We put the pan in the oven. Our cake today will not have chocolate chips in it.
Little Chef D saw the cake pan and asked, “Why does it have a hole?” I responded, “It is a different shape.” Then her funny comment, “Like egg in the hole.” Both do have a hole in the middle. Who knew that such a simple thing as changing the shape of a cake can prompt so many questions.

We took the cake to Grandma’s and make the Satiny Glaze there. Before measuring out the corn syrup Little Chef A asked if I sprayed it because it is easier for it to come out.

After all the ingredients were added she put it in the microwave. After 45 seconds it was stirred and popped back in for a little more.

When it was done she poured it over the top of the cake.

The cake was a little different from when I first made it, but yet it was still good. I did miss the chocolate chips. The glaze was not quite perfect, in fact it crumbled and fell off, but the cake was still good without it. The next day we ate the cake with a dusting of powdered sugar. My Little Chefs thought it was perfect!

Too Much Chocolate Cake

Adapted from Allrecipes.com 

Original Recipe Yield 1 12 cup Bundt cake

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package devil’s food cake mix
• 1 (5.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 cups milk chocolate mini chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs and water. Stir in the chocolate chips and pour batter into a well greased 12 cup bundt pan.
3. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until top is springy to the touch and a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool cake thoroughly in pan at least an hour and a half before inverting onto a plate If desired, dust the cake with powdered sugar.

Satiny Chocolate Glaze

Adapted from Allrecipes.com 
Original Recipe Yield 1 cup

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a double boiler over hot, but not boiling water, combine chocolate chips, butter, and corn syrup. Stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth, then add vanilla.
2. Spread warm glaze over top of cake, letting it drizzle down the sides.