cake for breakfast (or late night snack)

I'm not going to begin to pretend this is a healthy, good-for-your-body choice for breaking-fast in the morning.  Cake is anything but the healthy option, but sometimes my soul needs a little nourishing and cake sure does the trick.  Is there anything better than a moist slice of chocolate cake paired with a cup of hot coffee on a Friday morning?  Maybe you can think of something, but I cannot!

I have a sweet tooth.  I don't mind confessing this.  I also don't mind confessing that after all the cheffery that I perform in my kitchen every day for my family, sometimes after the kids go to sleep I still have the itch to bake something. I know, it's a sickness I tell you!  I've been searching for the perfect quick and tasty recipe that I can whip up during these late night baking binges.  Sometimes it's nice to hear the whir of your mixer as the only noise in the sleeping house.  Having something warm and sweet come out of the oven for a snack before bed and the leftovers for breakfast the next morning is my kind of soul nourishment.

My search is done.  I've found the perfect thing:  Simple chocolate loaf cake.  It's embarrassingly easy, fast and delicious.

Simple Chocolate Loaf Cake (my adaptation from Of Tide and Thyme)
1 cup flour (plus 1 Tbsp for high altitudes)
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda (1/2 tsp for high altitudes)
4 Tbsp melted butter (plus 1 Tbsp oil for high altitudes or if you just want at super moist cake)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup boiling water
1/3 cup shaved chocolate (dark or milk)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In the bowl of your mixer combine the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa, salt and baking soda).  Melt the butter in the microwave.  Add the egg and whisk together.  Add the egg butter mixture to the dry mixture in the mixer and beat on low.  Add the vanilla.  Boil 1 cup of water and slowly pour it into the bowl.  Beat on medium low until smooth and combined. Stir in the shaved chocolate (shaved chocolate is lighter than chocolate chips-the shavings don't sink to the bottom of your pan). Pour the mixture in a greased and floured loaf pan.  Bake for 45 minutes.  Slice warm and enjoy or cool and refrigerate for breakfast the next morning.

This cake is simple but not boring.  It has a nice moist crumb and the chocolate flavor is not over powering. The top of the cake gets a nice crust on top which is my favorite part. I wouldn't dare wreck the crust with a frosting. It's perfect with coffee in the morning or for a special after school snack for children.  It would also be perfect for a last minute dessert for a luncheon or dinner party.  You could serve it with candied orange slices or a dollop of peppermint whipped cream to elevate the cake to a full fledged dessert for guests.

However you frame it, it's a perfect simple chocolate loaf cake.  It's not fancy but it doesn't need to be.