Hot Chocolate

On occasion Dacia Grace will ask me to add her favorite recipes to this blog.  This happens to be one of them.  She loves to cook and has quite the palate.  Here is one of her favorites that she picked up from the Activity TV DVD series.  (Love this series.  There are many other topics other than cooking in this series.)

Hot Chocolate

1/2 c sugar
1/4 c unsweetened cocoa
Dash of salt
1/3 c hot water
4 c Mimicreme or other dairy free milk
3/4 tsp vanilla
Whipped cream or marshmallows

In small sauce pan whisk sugar, unsweetened cocoa and salt to remove lumps.  Add water to make a paste.  Over medium high heat, whisk to a smooth paste.  Bring to a boil.  Boil for 2 minutes.  Reduce to medium low.  Add milk gradually, stirring constantly.  DO NOT let it come to a boil.  Skim off skin film that forms on top.  Add vanilla.  Whisk rapidly to create foam.  Pour into cups.  Add whipped cream or marshmallows and enjoy.

NOTES: 

Can also make with regular milk for those that do not have to be dairy free.

Can also use a small amount of mint extract for a minty flavor.

GF Crazy Cake

This is almost identical to the other Crazy Cake recipe that I just posted.  However this recipe is egg free, dairy free, soy free AND wheat/gluten free.

1 c white rice flour
1/3 c potato starch
5 T and 1 tsp tapioca flour

3 T cocoa
1 c sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp white vinegar
5 T cooking oil
1 c cold water

Sift all dry ingredients into an 8 inch square greased pan. Make three depressions in four mixture and add vinegar in one depression, vanilla in the second and oil in the third. Pour cold water over all and stir thoroughly. DO NOT OVER MIX! Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

Notes: This cake really needs to be mixed by hand. A hand mixer or a stand mixer over mixes the batter and kills the leavening process between the baking powder and vinegar.


Also, the dry ingredients really do need to be sifted. This distributes the baking powder evenly and without lumps. Baking powder lumps DO NOT dissolve during the baking process and taste icky if you bite into one.

Crazy Cake

This is an awesome cake!  This is the first cake that I learned to make.  It is from the Depression Era when money was tight and supplies were limited.   It does well for people who like chocolate but are unable to eat it due to medical or allergy restrictions since cocoa is used not chocolate.

1 1/2 c flour
3 T cocoa
1 c sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp white vinegar
5 T cooking oil
1 c cold water

Sift first five ingredients into an 8 inch square greased pan.  Make three depressions in four mixture and add vinegar in one depression, vanilla in the second and oil in the third.  Pour cold water over all and stir thoroughly.  DO NOT OVER MIX!  Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

Notes:  This cake really needs to be mixed by hand.  A hand mixer or a stand mixer over mixes the batter and kills the leavening process between the baking powder and vinegar. 

Also, the dry ingredients really do need to be sifted.  This distributes the baking powder evenly and without lumps.  Baking powder lumps DO NOT dissolve during the baking process and taste icky if you bite into one.

The next time I make this I am going to scoop the batter into cupcake papers.  Will let you know how it turns out.

Serving suggestions:  Growing up this was served with sliced strawberries and whipped cream or ice cream.