Quick and Easy Chocolate Cake

Today was a very exciting day in the C family house - today was little miss's birthday! How in the world can my baby girl be six already?? Most of the way through kindergarten, losing teeth, reading, writing... Where has my baby gone???

In our house, birthdays are rarely single-day celebrations. Little miss's birthday celebration started yesterday, actually. And while we weren't doing the whole favorite-dinner-big-dessert thing tonight, you can't pass up the actual day of the birthday without cake, right??

So I decided to make a chocolate (of course) cake for today, but, seeing as we did a big celebration yesterday and that we're having the big party this weekend (as well as a smaller family get together...), I went simple. I found this quick and easy chocolate cake recipe after a quick google search and it sounded simple, delicious and intriguing.

This cake truly is quick and easy, and comes together unlike most other cakes I have ever seen. And has a rather interesting secret ingredient.

For starters, don't bother with a bowl.

Just mix the dry ingredients right in the cake pan (8" x 8" square).

Then mix the wet ingredients, which include neither egg nor milk, making this a good option for any vegans out there, in a measuring cup, and just pour them right on top.

Then, if you anything like me, once the batter is mixed together, throw in a whole bunch of chocolate chips.

And, as we're going simple here, once the cake has baked and cooled a bit, simply dust the top with a generous sprinkling of powdered sugar.

I know it's not the fanciest looking thing, but add a few candles on top and sing a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday" and it certainly makes for a fun evening!

And the best part?

It was delicious.

Dark, totally chocolatey, a bit gooey, and totally, deliciously cakey. 

We all ate every bite. And had to fight against going back for seconds.

Quick, easy, and something we will definitely be making again.

Quick and Easy Chocolate Cake

(from The Splattered Apron)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

4 tablespoons cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons canola oil

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

1 cup cold water

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (If making the cake vegan, either omit or use vegan chocolate chips)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In an ungreased 8×8 metal pan, mix all of the dry ingredients. 

Mix all of the wet ingredients in a measuring cup.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until combined. 

Fold in chocolate chips (if using).

Bake in preheated oven, 35-40 minutes, until it tests done in the center.

Enjoy!