Black Magic Cake – A moist and deliciously chocolaty sheet cake with a simple ganache on top – perfect for a picnic or a quick chocolate craving fix..!
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Life always comes a full circle. If not today, tomorrow, all your wishes will be fulfilled. It is a matter of working towards it, slow and steady. … I know that sounds quite philosophical,but that is what I learnt in the last few months. I have been a home maker for the last 10 years, a dutiful wife and a concerned, caring mother. Having gotten married when in college, I never worked a proper 9 to 5 job. Maybe that was the reason that a timed job and a working atmosphere always held a mysterious appeal for me. I envied those who worked even if they came home dead tired and broken down by office politics. And to me the funny thing was that they envied me and my blogging,, my free time and the countless hours of sleep I got.
Maybe it was the longing or the preparation, I have finally started working. I teach a mixed group of 6th graders and it is a very nice feeling. Yes, I have not been able to work on my blog as much as I could earlier, nor can I get my precious beauty sleep. I have to compromise on my telly serials and cookery shows and also carry school work home. But the happy looks on my kids faces, the Happy Mothers Day cards and Friendship bands from the students all kind of makes up for it. After all, it is a new step, a change to life, but one that has suited us well. And the best part is the feeling of making a difference, however small it may be, to the life of another. 
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Today I have for you a very simple and delicious recipe. This recipe was first discovered in the recipes of Hershey. It was later lost and then rediscovered under a new name – Black Magic Cake. Yes, it is truly black magic…. how can a simple cake be so delicious? It is such a breeze to prepare with no fancy ingredients, yet how could it be so delicious. Surely there has to be a magic spell in there somewhere, that makes it so tasty and in demand. Try it and see for yourself..!
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BLACK MAGIC CAKE
- 2 cups sugar
- 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup good quality Cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- A pinch of salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk
- 2 teaspoons powdered instant coffee + 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Method
- Heat oven to 350°F. Grease a one 13×9×2-inch baking pan.
- Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in large bowl.
- Add eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes (batter will be thin). Pour batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Cool 10 minutes; remove from the pan to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.
- Frost as desired. I made a simple chocolate ganache and frosted the cake with it. If you have a favorite recipe, go for it…!
- PS – To sour milk: Use 1 tablespoon white vinegar plus milk to equal 1 cup.
CHOCOLATE GANACHE
- Semi sweet chocolate chips – 1 cup
- Fresh cream – 3/4 cup
Method
- Heat the cream in a microwave for about 90 seconds. The cream will be really hot.
- Add the semisweet chocolate chips and mix till combined.
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Now, that was not so difficult was it?? I apologize for the not so great photographs. I was trying to keep that last piece of cake from going into my son’s tummy. Still he managed to pick out pieces from the sides. What else can I say about the cake? Yummy ..!!
Anzz it was lovely reading the post. Wish you success in your work.
I am staying away from ‘cakes’ for sometime but this sounds and looks very tempting!
Thank you Shri..
Do try this cake when you get baking again. Makes a nice starter cake on which you an build up..
no wonder i don’t see you around!!!congrats girl,thats excellent.all the very best for this new step in your life…………the cake is yum..i do this too!its chocolatey and decadent!…….once again all the very best.
I know.. not getting too much time around here… but cannot resist getting back to meet up with my pals.
Thank for the lovely comment my dear..!
All the best wishes dear..Hope you are enjoying ur new job..
Really wish i can bake a cake soon.I dont have any confidence in baking..
I am in muscat.how is bahrain life compared to muscat life..
I am trying to find that balance in life as of now..but yes, it is much better than I had imagined..so am happy..! Bahrain is a small place, so there are not as many places to visit as in muscat. Else they compare almost the same..!
Omg, wat a super spongy and attractive cake, fantastic.
Thanx dear..
Great to hear you work now. I wish I could too. Sometimes all this free time is a boon but a bane!
Hope you’re having a relaxed weekend
I understand exactly what you mean… when I was home I just could not wait to start working… and now I am yearning for one holiday..! Oh yeah…. what weekend??
Not had one for a long time…!
Oops!
HEhe..!
More than the recipe (even though i’m a die hard fan of cakes), it’s the write up that makes me comment. I’ve been doing an 8-5 job for the past 10 years now, and managing everything together – sometimes, my friends call me superwoman, a title which i loathe – i really feel like just resigning and being home with the kids. however, thinking that the kids will be allowed to eat my head 24-7 and my husband will expect perfect meals, i decide otherwise.
i’ve already told my husband that once he settles down, i will resign but then do something like tutions or freelancing to do off the time… BTW, nice cake, I’m definitely going to try this though of late, my cakes tend to fall flat!! 
keep up the good work…
I understand exactly what you mean. Torn between the two worlds..!
I am getting there too.. Try the cake .. it is a simple recipe and will definitely get you back in baking again.. Thanx for the comment.!
Congratzz Ancy on ur new job… I am sure the 6th graders love their new teacher..
The above cake luks oh so yummy n spongy. I have made a similar cake before wid jus a few ingredients different.. I have used 1 cup mashed bananas, 1 cup warm water and 1/2 cup milk instead of the coffee powder and sour milk dat u hav used… It tastes jus great and luyks d same
. My son, my nephew n niece , my sister n myself can jus finish it off in one sitting.. I am luking fwd to more quick recipes from u..
Njoy ur new job.
Thanx Merlyn for ur kind words… It was my lil sis’s wedding. Hence been caught up in it and cud not post much. Came online after 2 months .. will start posting again real soon ..!
Hi Anzz, I love your black magic cake. The texture look so moist and soft. I bookmark this recipe in my to do list..
Have a nice weekend.
It is a lovely cake, you will surely love it..!
Congratulations sweetheart. God bless you and I am sure you will enjoy working with kids. Here’s wishing you good luck
Thanx LAtha…
Hey Anzz, thatz so nice to hear. Congrats on ur new job dear and best wishes. Hope your enjoying this new stage of life.
Cake sounds yummy and moist
Thank you Prathibha. Been along time since I saw ya. How are things at your end? Yes, the cake is very moist and has a nice lovely taste to it.TRy it sometime..!
Going on well yaar, I know its been long. I’m not tat active in G+ Anzz, since no GFC its hard to keep track. Otherwise also I’m not tat regular in blogging compared to normal bloggers you know
Best Wishes dear, tc…
Hope little ones are doing great, here its summer vacation now so full time behind kids
Hey… been so long since we talked… was caught up in my sisters wedding…now that am back I have some catching up to do..
LOVE chocolate cake any time!
Try it… you will not be disappointed..!
You make cake like cakewalk.
Congrats dear !!!!wish you success in work!!!!!the cake has come out really well!!!!it looks so moist n delicious …loved it !!!!!
Thank you,for all the good wishes and lovely comments. The cake is very moist and delicious.. my new favorite.!
Very beautifully written post. Congratulations on your new job dear. It’s nice to hear you have embraced the change and are enjoying your new job. The cake looks delicious – I think it is the most tempting chocolate cake I have ever seen. It looks really that good and I’m sure it tastes just as good as it looks.
Love,
Rathai
That looks fantastic!!!!
Thanx Kavi dear..
congrats on the job! which school did you join?? the cake looks so delightful
had joined the new indian school…now relocated to India for good.!!
looks lovely and delicious…mouthwatering!
Thanx ..! Glad you liked it..!
Congratulations on the job! And welcome to the world of working mothers… but you know.. the grass is always greener on the other side… and by this i mean the grass is definitely greener on the stay-at-home mom’s side
Yup,,the job came and went so fast. 2 months into my job and we had to relocate to India… but yes, like u said the grass is quite green on either side.!
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wow… cake looks delicious… enjoyed reading your write up… Wishing you success in all your endeavors
Thanx Amina..
Ahh…this is yummy indeed!!! I’m grabbing a slice right away
Superb Anzz. Its looking attractive and yummy cake. Thanks for sharing such a awesome Cake to make. love it
My dear..it seems super yummy & tasty..I need a bite..hehe..
thanks for sharing the recipe..
have a nice day
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to go to the other side again i.e. the working woman’s side. I do miss the excitement, the travel, the compliments for a job done well and definitely the pay cheque. But when I think about the tight rope one has to walk between the home and the work front, I feel that a SAHM life is better. You got the glimpse of the work life for 2 months and it is great that you are in India now. Hope to see more of you now.
P.S Love the recipe. Will try it soon.
Dear Ansy,Where are you?Missing you and your recipes.How was your sis,ammus wedding?Wishing her a blessed married life! Are you back to bahrain?
hey dear, I am still in Kerala. As a matter of fact I have shifted residence permanently to Kerala now. The marriage was fine and life has been hectic with shifting between continents, resigning jobs, saying farewells and setting up a house all over again. HEnce my prolonged absence on my blog.
Will be back soon… just cannot keep away .!
Hey, just visited to check about your updates, missing your recipes and posts but just got to read the above comment so now know that you are soon going to bounce back to the blogging world as soon as you settled.Take Care!
yeah am back , slowly albeit steadily i hope. Loved the way your site looks.. amazing.!
You know what I have worked for13 looking years in the corporate world till I left my job to take up higher education, then iPad my baby, I never want to work 9 to 5 ever again. I love the freedoms I enjoy. The unlimited shopping sprees when the malls are empty. The cake is soooo deliciious
I understand totally..! Thanx…!