Chocolate Dump-It Cake

Chocolate Dump-It Cake

“A couple of years ago, my mother taught me to make her dense but moist chocolate birthday cake. She calls it 'dump-it cake' because you mix all of the ingredients in a pot over medium heat, then dump the batter into a cake pan to bake. For the icing, you melt Nestlé's semisweet-chocolate chips and swirl them together with sour cream. It sounds as if it's straight from the Pillsbury Bake-Off, but it tastes as if it's straight from Payard. Everyone loves it.”

Ingredients

  • sugar
    2 c
  • unsweetened chocolate
    4 oz
  • unsalted butter

    plus more for greasing the pan

    1 stick
  • all-purpose flour

    plus more for dusting the pan

    2 c
  • baking soda
    2 tsp
  • baking powder
    1 tsp
  • salt
    1 tsp
  • milk
    1 c
  • cider vinegar
    1 tsp
  • eggs
    2
  • vanilla
    1 tsp
  • nestle's semisweet-chocolate chips
    1 ½ c
  • sour cream

    at room temperature

    1 ½ c

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and place a baking sheet on the lowest rack to catch any drips as the cake bakes on the middle rack. In a 2- to 3-quart pot, mix together the sugar, unsweetened chocolate, butter and 1 cup of water. Place over medium heat and stir occasionally until all of the ingredients are melted and blended. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.

  2. 2

    Meanwhile, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, stir together the milk and vinegar. Grease and flour a 9-inch tube pan (Tip: Be meticulous, and really work the butter and flour into the crevices of the pan. This is a moist cake, so it really needs a well-prepared pan to keep it from sticking).

  3. 3

    When the chocolate in the pot has cooled a bit, whisk in the milk mixture and eggs. In several additions, and without overmixing, whisk in the dry ingredients. When the mixture is smooth, add the vanilla and whisk once or twice to blend. Pour the batter into the tube pan and bake on the middle rack until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 to 35 minutes. Let the cake cool for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and cool on a rack. (This can be tricky -- if someone is around to help, enlist him.) Let cool completely.

  4. 4

    Meanwhile, melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler, then let cool to room temperature. Stir in the sour cream, 1/4 cup at a time, until the mixture is smooth.

  5. 5

    When the cake is cool, you may frost it as is or cut it in half so that you have 2 layers. There will be extra icing whether you have 1 or 2 layers. My mother always uses it to make flowers on top. She makes a small rosette, or button, then uses toasted slices of almond as the petals, pushing them in around the base of the rosette.

Chocolate Dump-It Cake

Chocolate Dump-It Cake

621 cal

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About this Recipe

Looking for that perfect, indulgent chocolate cake that feels gourmet yet is incredibly simple to make? This Chocolate Dump-It Cake, a beloved family recipe, delivers a dense, moist crumb with an unforgettable homemade taste, perfect for any celebration, especially birthdays.

Why This Recipe Works

What makes this chocolate cake so special is its ingenious 'dump-it' method: all the cake ingredients are mixed directly in a pot over medium heat before the batter is dumped into a pan to bake. This unique technique results in a wonderfully rich, moist chocolate cake every time, taking the fuss out of traditional baking while still achieving a remarkably sophisticated flavor profile, akin to what you'd find at a high-end patisserie like Payard.

What to Expect

Prepare for a chocolate cake that is both dense and incredibly moist, a delightful balance that ensures each bite is deeply satisfying. The rich chocolate flavor from the unsweetened chocolate in the cake is beautifully complemented by a luscious icing made from melted Nestlé's semisweet-chocolate chips swirled with tangy sour cream. This unique combination creates an icing that sounds deceptively simple but tastes wonderfully complex, providing a sophisticated counterpoint to the cake's sweetness. This dessert offers a truly comforting, celebratory experience without requiring advanced baking skills.

Customization & Variations

While this chocolate cake shines on its own, you could use other quality semisweet-chocolate chips for the icing if Nestlé's aren't available. For an extra layer of depth in the cake's flavor, a small amount of instant espresso powder can subtly enhance the chocolate notes. The rich icing is key to the cake's unique character, offering a tangy richness.

Serving & Context

This delightful Chocolate Dump-It Cake is perfect for birthday celebrations, holidays, or simply as a show-stopping dessert for any special gathering. Serve it as is, or with a simple dusting of cocoa powder for an elegant finish.

Frequently Asked Questions