CHOCOLATE CINNAMON BUNDT CAKE

When I received my issue of Bon Appétit back in September, I immediately saw the Bundt Cake recipe which was featured in their "Fast Easy Fresh" pages and thought "Oh boy, I'll have to try that out!"...

Since the very first day I lay my eyes on a picture of a Bundt cake I was mesmerized. The beautiful and perfect shape of that baked good has always fascinated me and I can't tell you how many times I wished to be the lucky owner of a Bundt pan.

Here, in Europe, that kind of cake doesn't really exist and the only pans that are similar in shape are the Kugelhopf ones. So, when one of my American friend proposed to bring one back from here trip to the States, I could not refuse her offer and felt overwhelmed with joy!

Now, my only obssession is to find as many recipes as possible in order to make that yummy speciality which is very much appreciated at my place.

Coming back to Bon Appétit's recipe, what attracted me to it was the wonderful combination of chocolate, cinnamon and coffee. I cannot resist anything that contains either of them. It seemed so promising that I could not resist the urge to bake it.

This recipe is very simple and takes no time at all to make. I whipped up this cake in a matter of minutes on a Saturday afternoon after lunch and we already could work our way through it during the course of the afternoon.

Flavor-wise, I wasn't disappointed at all. The cake has a distinct aroma of chocolate with warm notes of coffee as well as fragrant and spicy hints of cinnamon. Magical! Texture-wise, it is very moist and soft. The chocolate chips add a pleasant crunch and the icing brings extra delight.

Not to forget that this "Chocolate Cinnamon Bundt Cake" ages very well (can be kept up to 5 days if well-wrapped in plastic wrapper and placed in the refrigerator) and tastes even better the following days.

That recipe is definitely a keeper!!!

~ Chocolate Cinnamon Bundt Cake ~
From Bon Appetit, September 2009.

Makes 1 Bundt cake.

Ingredients:
1 Cup (240ml) Boiling water
1/2 Cup (105g) Natural unsweetened cocoa powder
4 Tsps Instant espresso powder, divided
2 Cups (255g) Unbleached all purpose flour
2 Tsps Baking powder 2 Tsps Ground cinnamon
1 Tsp Sea salt
2 1/2 Cups (600g) Golden brown sugar (packed), divided
1 Cup (210g) Vegetable oil
1 Tbs Pure vanilla extract
2 Large eggs
1 1/4 Cups (225g) Mini semisweet chocolate chips (60%), divided
1/4 Cup (1/2 stick/60g) Unsalted butter, room temperature

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180° C (350° F).
2. Generously brush 12- to 15-cup nonstick Bundt pan with oil.
3. Whisk the boiling water, cocoa powder, and 2 teaspoons espresso powder in 2-cup glass measure.
4. Whisk 2 cups flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in medium bowl.
5. Using electric mixer, beat 2 cups brown sugar, 1 cup vegetable oil, and 1 tablespoon vanilla in a large bowl to blend.
6. Add eggs and beat to blend.
7. Beat mixture until smooth, about 30 seconds longer.
8. Beat in half of flour mixture, then cocoa mixture.
9. Add remaining flour mixture; beat to blend.
10. Fold in 1 cup chocolate chips and transfer batter to prepared Bundt pan.
11. Bake cake until tester inserted near center comes out clean, about 50 minutes.
12. Cool the cake for 10 minutes and then invert cake onto rack to cool for another 15 minutes.
13. Meanwhile, stir remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons espresso powder, and 2 tablespoons water in small saucepan over medium heat until sugar melts.
14. Remove from heat. Add butter and remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips; stir until butter and chocolate melt.
15. Cool slightly. Using spoon, drizzle icing over cake.
16. Cool cake completely, slice, and serve.

Remarks:
I used peanut oil.
You'd better use neutral tasting oil for that recipe.

Serving suggestions:
Serve this cake with whipped cream, vanilla sauce or vanilla ice cream.

****************

~ Bundt Cake Au Chocolat, A La Cannelle ~
Recette tirée du magazine Bon Appetit, Septembre 2009.

Pour 1 Bundt cake.

Ingrédients:

240ml/g d'Eau bouillante
105g de Cacao non-sucré
4 CC de Poudre d'expresso, divisées
255g de Farine Blanche
2 CC de Poudre à lever
2 CC de Cannelle en poudre
1 CC de Sel de mer
600g (480g+120g) de Sucre brun clair, divisés
210g d'huile végétale
1 CS d'Extrait de vanille pure
2 Gros oeufs
225g (180g+45g) de Pépites de chocolat (60%), divisés
60g de Beurre non-salé à température ambiante

Méthode:

1. Préchauffer le four à 180° C.
2. Généreusement enduire le moule avec de l'huile.
3. Bien mélanger l'eau chaude avec le cacao et 2 CC de poudre d'expresso.
4. Dans un bol moyen, mélanger la farine avec le poudre à lever, la cannelle et le sel.
5. Battre (au mixer) 480g de sucre avec l'huile et la vanille afin d'obtenir un mélange homogène.

6. Ajouter les oeufs et battre afin de bien les incorporer.
7. Battre pendant environ 30 secondes.
8. Incorporer la moité de la farine et le mélange au cacao, puit battre.
9. Ajouter le restant de la farine et battre.
10. Incorporer 1 cup de chocolat et verser la pâte dans le moule.

11. Cuire pendant 50 minutes, jusqu'à ce qu'un couteau inséré à l'intérieur du cake en resorte propre.
12. Faire refroidir le cake pendant 10 minutes puis le démouler et le faire refroidir pendant encore 15 minutes supplémentaires.
13. Pendant ce temps, mélanger les 120g de sucre brun restants, 2 CC de poudre d'espresso et 2 CS d'eau dans une casserole moyenne et faire fondre à feu doux.
14. Retirer du feu. Ajouter le beurre et les g restants de chocolat, puis bien mélanger jusqu'à ce que le beurre et le chocolat aient fondu.
15. Laisser refroidir quelques instants et verser sur le cake.
16. Laisser le cake refroidir complètement et servir.

Remarques:
J'ai utilisé de l'huile d'arachide.
C'est préférable de choisir une huile au goût neutre.
J'ai utilisé un moule à Bundt Cake, mais vous pouvez aussi utiliser une moule à kougelhopf.

Idées de présentation:
Servir avec de la crème chantilly, de la sauce vanille ou une boule de glace vanille.