Steamed Moist Chocolate Cake

Recently I have "craving" on baking, in fact I am not too sure I have that craving is it because I wanted to bake, or is it because I wanted to take photos on my bakes, hope you understand what I meant lol. I am trying to learn to use dear husband's DSLR, exploring on the camera setting to improve my photography skill, so that I can present nicer photos on my bakes to share with you :D. 

Perhaps both are the reasons that pushing me to bake every weekend (if time permit of course). As I am starting to watch my diet, I dun really eat my bakes recently. I will normally have a small slice so that I can provide some feedback on the bakes. The bakes will go to the stomach of my family and friends, luckily so far all of them are still very much enjoy my bakes and of course, welcome my bakes lol.

Well back to this steamed moist chocolate cake which I saw it at Jane's Corner and Min's blog. It has never come across my mind to touch steam cake, I dun really fancy those traditional steam sponge cake. So to me, steamed cake taste the same which is not my cup of tea. However the raves from Jane and Min making me to bookmark this recipe, just in case one day I may change my mind.

True enough, after a year plus, when I flipped through my baking list looking for chocolate cake that easy to whip up, I spotted this recipe a again. There is no need of waiting for the butter to soften, no need of mixer, just one pot can settle the cake. So without hesitation, I took action on it immediately.

Guess what, such easy cake I was still able to make mistake. When I folded the flour into the batter, I was thinking how come the batter is yellowish color, it supposed to be chocolate cake rite? Then I realised that I totally forgot about the cocoa powder!!! Oh no, I was so blurred! Quickly mixed in the cocoa powder, thinking not sure will the cake turned out to be dense due to my double folding.....

Mine is the healthier version since I used cooking oil rather than butter, I reduced the sugar as well. The sweetness is just nice for me, you may need to increase the sugar if you have sweet tooth.

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers # 22 : Lightened Up Cakes (August 2012) hosted by Qi Ting of A Dessert Diet.

Recipe adapted from Cooking Crave.
 

For Cake :

Ingredients :

180 g butter (I replaced by sunflower oil)
200 g caster sugar (I reduced to 180g)
200 g full cream evaporated milk (I used low fat)
2 eggs, slightly beaten with fork
100 g plain flour
50 g cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla extract or 1 tsp vanilla essense
2 tbsp of rum (optional)

Methods :

1. Combine caster sugar, evaporated milk, vanilla extract or essense and butter in a saucepan.Stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved and butter is melted, turn off the fire and keep warm.

2. Add the beaten eggs into the slightly cold evaporated milk mixture and stir till well mix.

3. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda into a large mixing bowl, then pour the eggs mixture over the flour and stir till well mix (cake batter should be runny - mine is like the batter for brownie)

4. Heat up the steamer.

5. Lined and greased a 8 or 9 inch round baking pan. (I used 8")

6. Pour the batter into the lined pan and place the pan into the steamer and cover the top of the pan loosely with a piece of aluminium foil.

7. Cover the steamer and steam over medium heat for 45 mins. (I steamed for nearly 55 mins, until skewer came out clean)
8. Cool the cake in pan before turning out for further decoration. 

For Frosting :

100g chocolate, chopped into small pieces

25g milk

Method :

1. Double boil the chocolate and milk until chocolate is melt.

2. Pour onto the cake and chill the cake.

* This amount of chocolate ganache is not sufficient to coat the whole cake, you need to increase the amount of chocolate if you want to frost the entire cake.

Verdict?

The cake is moist and soft and chocolaty, the rum given a special fragrance to the cake and making the cake so delicious. My friends given double thumbs up on this cake, they love it a lot. You may serve the cake when is chilled or in room temperature. We love to heat it up a bit for the melted chocolate coating to go with the rummy chocolaty cake, heavenly! No wonder Tin Tin given 5 stars rating for this cake, how true it is. This cake has totally changed my concept on steam cake. This is definitely a keeper, a cake that I will always come back if I need a yummy and fuss free chocolate cake.