Grandpa’s Chocolate Cake or “Hot Water Chocolate Cake”

Recipe by Braxton Allred

Heat: 375°F
Time: 25 min + chill
Makes: Not recorded

This cake has been in the family for 6 generations, and is the staple dessert of the family. In my Grandma’s words: “This is another of Dad’s Staple Desserts. It seems that when I was a kid, we had this for dessert every Sunday evening. The recipe actually comes from Grandma Oertle, who used to make it often for her married brothers and their wives when she and Grandpa lived in California early in their marriage. It has certainly passed the test of time. Dad has discovered that this recipe needs adjustment for high altitudes- mainly increasing eggs, so make that decision based on where you live. I have always used this recipe with good success although I always increase the extracts and some

Ingredients

1 c flour
6 T cocoa (or three squares of baker’s
1 c sugar chocolate)
1 ½ tsp baking soda
2 tsp vegetable oil or two pats of butter
½ tsp salt (it is not necessary to use the oil if
1 - 2 eggs (as desired) squares are used)
¼ cup buttermilk or sour milk (regular
½ c butter
milk with a t. of vinegar in it.)
½ cup boiling water
¼ tsp maple extract

Method

01
*Mix flour, sugar, soda, salt, eggs and buttermilk, and extracts together. In another small bowl melt butter, cocoa, and oil together in microwave and then mix together with other ingredients until they’re thoroughly mixed. Pour in boiling water last and mix until smooth. Pour batter into 4 pre- greased and floured bread loaf pans. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes. Pour fresh frosting over a hot piece of cake. Small loaf pans are also fun to use. Although of course you have to have more of them for this amount of batter.
02
Frosting: Can use this frosting (with less liquid) spread thinly between graham crackers and freeze them for cookies. 2 cups powdered sugar 6 T cocoa (baker’s chocolate squares 1⁄2 t vanilla extract can substitute for cocoa) ¼ tsp maple extract 1⁄4 cup butter, softened ¼ tsp almond extract ¼ tsp salt
03
Combine above ingredients in medium bowl; pour in about a tablespoon of boiling water at a time and mix until desired consistency is reached. You can stir it to be stiff enough to spread, if desired, but we usually have it runny enough to pour over each piece!