Chocolate in a Crisis

I don’t think I can adequately express how important Chocolate is in our house. I have to hide it in a secret cabinet so that no one eats my stash. If I make a Chocolate dessert, I am crowned Goddess for the night. A few weeks ago, I was digging around to see what kind of dessert I could throw together with just the basic pantry ingredients I had on hand, because I thought it would lift everyone’s spirits during this current crisis. The response was overwhelming. In times of crisis, especially those that include deprivation, chocolate can be a panacea.

Now, with the Corona Virus in it’s fourth week here in the United States, this dessert has become a weekly tradition on Sunday nights. I make this chocolatey concoction and we sit down as a family and eat it together after dinner while watching our favorite TV show. I am hoping between the chocolate and bonding as a family, this will help my family (and yours) make living in self-quarantine a little sweeter.

Ingredients:

3/4 Cup of all-purpose flour

1 cup of sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon of instant expresso powder (or instant coffee)

1 1/2 teaspoons of butter, melted

2/3 cup of whole milk (or other milk of your choice)

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1/3 cup of packed brown sugar

1 3/4 cups of boiling water

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter (or use Pam) to coat a 9″ x 12″ baking pan. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, 1/3 cup of cocoa powder and espresso powder. In a glass measuring cup mix together the melted butter, milk and vanilla. (I microwave the butter, then just add the milk and vanilla). Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until evenly moistened. Turn into the prepared pan and sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/4 cup of cocoa powder and the brown sugar. Carefully pour the boiled water over the top. DO NOT stir. It will look disgusting, but trust me on this one. Bake for 35 minutes. Let cool for 5-10 minutes. Serve alone, or with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream (or both) if you really want to take it over the top!

Serves about 6 – 9 people depending on how bad the current crisis is!