Chocolate Espresso Bundt Cake

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup high quality dark Dutch process cocoa
1 tablespoon  Espresso instant coffee dissolved in 3/4 cup of water
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs at room temperature (I used 3 because mine were small)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Butter and flour bundt pan (I couldn't find my bundt pan so I resorted to this angel food cake pan)

Melt butter in large saucepan over medium-low heat.

Add the cocoa and whisk . . . .

. . . . whisk until smooth

 Whisk in the espresso water and remove from heat

Add the sugar (forgot the sugar picture), sour cream,

vanilla extract (my very own homemade extract)

and the eggs and whisk until smooth

In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt.

Add all at once to the chocolate mixture and whisk until well blended.  Since I was doing it by hand, it was taking a good five minutes of continuous stirring to get it good and smooth but it still looked a little lumpy.

Pour into prepared pan

Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes or when a toothpick placed close to the center comes out clean.  I ended up having to bake mine for at least 1 hour, I'm not sure why.

Once it's done baking, remove from oven and let cool before removing from pan.

Once it's cool, invert into plate.  Frost, glaze or decorate depending on what you desire.  You can eat it plain too if you'd like

I left the cake plain but then decorated each cut piece to whatever hubby wanted.  He liked the toasted crunched almonds on his.

Another piece had powdered sugar sprinkled on

Mine had a spoonful of raspberry jam

I agree, Happiness is homemade

I rarely make chocolate cake anymore but for the last couple of days I have been craving it.  I visited one of my top favorite bloggee girlfriend's site who in my opinion is right up there with Martha Stewart and Pioneer Woman, I am serious.  Her blog is Le Table de Nana, her name is Monique and she lives in Canada.  An amazing woman and VERY talented.  I knew she would have the perfect chocolate cake I would be looking for and sure enough she did.  Monique made the cake, if you click on the link to her site, you'll see the beautiful cake she baked.  She is amazing - browse around her site and you'll agree with me.  She also gave the link to the cake from where she got the recipe and so here's the original:  Chocolate Espresso Bundt Cake with Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Glaze.  As you can see, I didn't make the glaze as I just wasn't in the mood for cinnamon.

Hubby and I were very happy the way the cake came out.  It was solid, chocolatey and the espresso  brings out that perfect chocolate flavor even more.

A nice treat to have while watching the first episode of Downton Abbey.

Have a great week.  Until next time,