Moist Chocolate Loaf Cake

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup buttermilk (or substitute with regular milk mixed with 1 tablespoon vinegar)
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water (for extra moistness)

For the Ganache:

• 6 oz. semi-sweet or milk chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions:

For the Cake:

1. Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan (9×5 inch) and line it with parchment paper for easy removal of the cake.
2. Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the granulated sugar and brown sugar until smooth and fluffy. Add in the buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract, and mix until combined.
4. Combine: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix to keep the cake tender.
5. Add Boiling Water: Stir in the boiling water (the batter will be thin, but this is normal). This will ensure a moist cake.
6. Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If the cake starts to brown too quickly, cover it loosely with aluminum foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.
7. Cool: Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the Ganache:

1. Prepare Ganache: Place the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until it begins to simmer (don’t let it boil). Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate and let it sit for 3-4 minutes. Stir until smooth and glossy.
2. Drizzle Ganache: Once the cake has cooled, drizzle the ganache over the top of the cake. Allow it to set for a few minutes before slicing.

Tips:

• For extra moistness, you can wrap the cooled cake in plastic wrap and let it sit for a day before serving.
• You can also add chocolate chips to the batter for an extra burst of chocolate flavor.

Enjoy your rich, moist chocolate loaf cake!