Chocolate Wonderful Cake

I am the first to admit that I prefer things made from scratch.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I like to make things with my hands and I like to know what is in everything and how it is made.  I prefer to make all of our own food for the sheer reason that I hate the unknown.  Plus, it is healthier.  This, my friends, is a cheater cake.  The type of jazzed up box mix that I usually turn my nose up at.  I honestly had no idea when I tried it that it was not from scratch and could not tell even after I had scraped the last crumbs from my plate and licked it clean.  Oh what, I'm the only one who does that?  Moving on.

I also really like cake.  Especially if it is chocolate.  There is something just so perfectly indulgent and comforting about chocolate cake.  Drizzle it with chocolate ganache and you are talking extra helpings and sneaking it for breakfast type chocolate cake.  Hey, if Bill Cosby can do it, why not me?  

If you are in a pinch or just really love chocolate cake, try this one.  Who knows who named it but I certainly know where the name comes from.  Chocolate Wonderful, indeed.

Chocolate Wonderful Cake

recipe adapted from my mother-in-law

1 Devil's Food chocolate cake mix

1 box of instant chocolate pudding (4 serving size)

1/2 c warm water

1/2 c oil

4 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips or morsels

Mix all the ingredients just until smooth.  The pudding is just the box of powder, do NOT make pudding out of it.  Once combined, pour into a greased bundt pan and bake at (you guessed it) 350F for 50 min or just until set.  Use a toothpick like your mamma taught you.  And if she didn't, you need to talk to her about that!  Take it out and let it cool and then invert on a plate or cakestand. 

For the ganache, you need equal parts cream and chocolate.  I used 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate chopped up (just the baking squares, they are 1 oz each so pretty easy to use) and then 1/2 c cream (that is 4 oz peeps).  Heat the cream in a small saucepan until almost boiling and then put in the chopped chocolate and stir with a whisk until smooth.  Pour over the cake top and let it drizzle down the sides.  Your guests/family/you will ooooh and aaaaaah over it.  It's the little things.

Cut yourself a big fat slice and enjoy.  Drink some milk, if you are into it, I am told it makes it better ... just not for me!