If you're planning to make a chocolate pound cake from scratch, you're in luck. Here at Bob's Red Mill, we've made our fair share of baked goods, and chocolate pound cake is one of our favorites. Though gathering all of the ingredients and making a cake from scratch might seem challenging, with the right recipe, it is much easier than it sounds. To create a chocolate pound cake that is well worth the effort, follow the step-by-step instructions below.
Easy Chocolate Pound Cake
Ingredients
- 1 tsp Orange Zest
- 1/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill® Potato Starch
- 1/2 tsp Bob’s Red Mill® Xanthan Gum
- 1/4 tsp Sea Salt
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 Eggs
- 1/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill® Tapioca Flour
- 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
- 2 Tbsp strong Coffee
- 1/3 cup Milk of choice
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1/2 cup Bob’s Red Mill® Brown Rice Flour
- 1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 1/4 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 jar Prune Baby Food (1 1/2 oz)
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Prepare and spray a 6 or 8-cup tube or Bundt cake pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, sift flours, cocoa, xanthan gum, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
- In a small bowl, combine coffee, prunes, vanilla and milk.
- In another large bowl, combine butter, eggs, sugar and orange peel.
- Use an eclectic mixer to beat the butter mixture for four minutes at high speed.
- Turning the mixer down to the low-speed setting, add the flour mixture alternately with the milk/prune mixture in three separate additions. Continually scrape the edges of the bowl.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick can be inserted into the center and come out clean.
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool on a rack for 10 minutes.
- Turn the cake onto a plate and serve.
Featured Ingredients
Though several ingredients in this recipe contribute to its great flavor, three elements stand out amongst the rest: potato starch, tapioca flour and brown rice flour. When combined, these three ingredients create a soft and moist cake texture that everyone will love biting into. Read on to learn more about these ingredients and how they contribute to a great-tasting chocolate pound cake recipe.
Potato Starch
Potato starch is often used to replace cornstarch in many baking recipes. Because potato starch can tolerate higher temperatures than cornstarch, it works to add moistness to baked goods and is an essential ingredient in gluten free baking.
Tapioca Flour
One of the most versatile gluten free flours, tapioca flour, flaunts a slightly sweet flavor that works well in baked treats. A starchy white flour derived from the cassava plant, it is a staple in gluten free baking. Tapioca flour can also be used as a thickening agent in soups, sauces and pie fillings.
Brown Rice Flour
Our Bob's Red Mill Brown Rice Flour is 100% stone ground from the highest quality of whole grain brown rice. It has a milky, nutty flavor and is a versatile gluten free flour used to create baked goods. Ideal for making cake, pancakes, muffins and gluten free bread, it is a staple ingredient in many baker's pantries.
Tips to Make the Best Chocolate Cake
Nothing says dessert like a freshly baked chocolate cake. While baking a cake from scratch isn't challenging, it does help to have some tips and tricks to reference before starting. Follow the tips below to ensure that your next chocolate cake is your best yet!
Use High-Quality Unsweetened Cocoa
The type of chocolate you use in your cake recipe plays a vital role in its overall flavor. For the best flavor and texture, opt for the highest quality cocoa that you can find. In general, the darker the cocoa is, the richer the flavor will be. When searching for high-quality cocoa, look for one made of pure unsweetened cocoa and does not contain sugar or milk powders. Not only will this provide the best flavor, but it will also help you gauge how much additional sugar you want to add.
Use High-Quality Chocolate
When making batters and frostings, using high-quality chocolate is as important as using high-quality cocoa. The type and grade of chocolate used will affect your baked good's finished taste and texture. Choose a chocolate bar that you wouldn't mind snacking on by itself for the best results. Chocolate bars are versatile and can be used in several chocolate cake recipes to add a moist and fudge-like element.
Use Light Baking Pans
While it's not necessary to purchase new baking pans to make a chocolate cake, if you can choose between light baking pans and dark ones, we recommend the light ones. Dark baking pans absorb more of the oven's heat and, as a result, can cause over-browning. Baking a cake in light and shiny baking pans will prevent premature browning and cook the cake to perfection. Though dark baking pans tend to have better nonstick properties, lighter pans will work just the same with proper preparation. Greasing or lining a light pan will ensure that the batter does not stick during the baking process but instead creates a perfectly cooked chocolate cake.
Dust Parchment Paper with Cocoa Instead of Flour
If you decide to prep your baking pan with parchment paper, you'll want to line it with a bit of flour to allow for a clean release after baking. When making chocolate cake, we've found that cocoa powder works in the same way traditional flour does. So, dust your baking pan with cocoa powder for an extra chocolatey flavor.
Use Accurate Measurements
Accurate measuring is crucial for any recipe, especially when making baked goods. When making chocolate cake, if a measurement is even slightly off, it can alter the taste and texture of your dessert. When baking your next chocolate cake, pay close attention to the amount of sugar and flour you are adding. Use too much sugar, and your chocolate cake will produce too dark of a crust. Too little will result in a cake that is light and tough in texture. Add too much flour, and it will cause the top of the cake to crack, making decorating a chocolate cake a bit harder.
If possible, measure all cake ingredients by weight using a kitchen scale. If you don't have a kitchen scale, spoon the ingredients into a measuring cup and gently flatten the top with a knife for the most accurate results.
Cream the Butter and Sugar to Perfection
If your goal is a light and fluffy cake, then creaming the butter and sugar is an essential step in the process. Cream the butter and sugar before adding the other ingredients to the batter for the fluffiest results. Depending on the recipe, this process can take a few minutes and is entirely worth it. To cream these two ingredients properly, beat the sugar and butter base until it is pale in color and takes on a fluffy texture. This airy mixture will transfer over to the cake and take its fluffiness to the next level.
Incorporate Sea Salt
One of the best flavor combinations around is chocolate cake and sea salt. Though most recipes will call for a small amount of salt, don't overlook the importance of this step. Just a dash of sea salt will do wonders for a chocolate cake. It works as a flavor enhancer, balances the sweetness and makes the cocoa more prominent.
Keep Ingredients at Room Temperature
Most cake recipes will call for ingredients at room temperature. Though you may be tempted to use ingredients straight from the refrigerator, the results won't be as good. When baking with eggs, butter and dairy, bring the elements to room temperature before adding them to the recipe. Doing so will help create an emulsion effect that traps air in the cake batter. As a result, the air will expand during the cooking process, resulting in a fluffy cake with a lighter crumb.
Follow the step-by-step instructions above to create the best chocolate pound cake you've ever baked. Loved by people of all ages, this dessert is perfect for your next gathering or birthday party. Gain inspiration from our chocolate cake-making tips to ensure that your result is what you hoped for. From using high-quality chocolate to creaming the butter and sugar to perfection, there are several minor adjustments that you can make to your next recipe to ensure that it's even better than the last. From the Bob's Red Mill family to yours, happy baking!
Do you enjoy making homemade pound cake? We'd love to hear more about your favorite methods of making this dessert. Share your favorite pound cake recipes with us in the comments below. We can't wait to hear from you.
