Eggless, Butterless 5-minute Microwave Chocolate Cake
Ingredients:
■All purpose flour/Maida – 1 1/2 cups
■Cocoa – 1/2 cup (If you like it chocolatey, make it 1 1/4 cups maida and 3/4th cup cocoa powder)
■Brown Sugar – 1 1/2 cups (firmly packed) (If you don’t have brown sugar or if procuring it is tough, just go ahead and use normal white sugar).
■Baking powder – 1 tsp
■Baking Soda – 1/2 tsp
■Salt – a pinch
■Flax seed powder – 4 tsps mixed in 1 cup warm water (substituting 4 eggs)
■Milk – 1/3 cup
■Water – 1/3 cup
■Oil – 1/3 cup (I used Rice Bran)
■Vanilla essence – 2 tsps
Note: If you wish to make a Vegan version, then omit the milk and increase both water and oil to 1/2 cup each.
Procedure:
■Sift all the dry ingredients together (maida, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt) thrice and transfer to a wide bowl.
■Add the sugar, stir well to incorporate.
■Stir in the milk, water, oil and vanilla essence. Mix well.
■Lastly stir in the flax-seed powder mixed in warm water and mix well. The batter must have a ribbon-like consistency now.
■Pour the batter into a greased and dusted microwave-safe glass pan (should be wider than it is deeper).
■Now cook the cake on high for 5-7 minutes (My microwave sets to 900W at high power. Please check yours and increase/decrease the time by a minute or two, as required).
■Give it a standing time of 5 minutes and put it through the toothpick test to check if its done well.
■Stick it back in the oven for a couple more minutes if required.
■Once done, let it cool in the pan for a while. Turn onto a wire-rack and let cool completely before you serve it.
■Serve with a dollop or two of icecream, topped with nuts and chocolate sauce…aaaah, divine!
Note: If you wish to bake this cake in your oven, you will need to bake at 160c/320F for about 25-30 minutes, or till done.
Apart from giving in to your cravings/urges, this cake is also perfect for when you’re having a party ‘cos it just takes about 10 minutes to put together. Give another 10 minutes for the cake to bake and dessert is fixed already! Bake it the previous evening so it gets it share of time to cool and when it’s time for dessert on the day of the party, bring it out, cut into equal portions and serve with a dollop or two of ice-cream, top it with some chocolate sauce and some nuts (if you like) and watch everyone’s eyes go wide from the first signs of food coma!
Update: This cake was showcased by me at a Cookery Competition here in B’lore in June ’10, and it was the First prize winner!! It is also the most sought-after recipe on CCN. Have received nearly 10-15 testimonials already, and looking forward to many more!! Thanks to all those who tried this cake and let me know that you loved it too…warm hugs!
