Recipe: Six-Minute Chocolate Cake with Fast and Easy Chocolate Frosting (using vinegar)

Hi Celia :-) This recipe is not from the Boston Globe but from the cookbook Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home: Fast and Easy Recipes for Any Day. It does have both coffee and vinegar in it. I hope that it is what you are looking for, Celia.

SIX-MINUTE CHOCOLATE CAKE

1 1/2 cups unbleached white flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup cold water (or brewed coffee)
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 tbsp vinegar (Yes, vinegar)
Powdered sugar or Fast and Easy Chocolate Frosting (recipe follows)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt and sugar into an ungreased 8-inch square or 9-inch round baking pan (preferably non-stick).

In a 2-cup measuring cup, measure and mix the oil, water (or coffee), and vanilla. Slowly and gently pour the liquid ingredients into the baking pan and mix the batter with a fork or a small whisk.

When the batter is smooth, add the vinegar and stir quickly. There will be pale swirls (and some bubbling) in the batter where the baking soda and vinegar are reacting. Stir just until the vinegar is evenly distributed throughout the batter (the color becomes more consistent throughout).

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes - testing with a toothpick. Remove to a cooling rack and make frosting.

Once completely cool, serve sprinkled with powdered sugar or frost using this fast and easy chocolate frosting.

FAST AND EASY CHOCOLATE FROSTING
Covers the 6 Minute Chocolate Cake (with some left over)
Or one (2-layer) cake or one (9x13-inch) sheet cake

1 lb confectioners sugar
1/2 cup soy (or regular) margarine, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tbsps to 1/3 cup non-fat (soy) milk

In a large mixing bowl with a whisk (attachment), beat together sugar, butter, vanilla, milk and cocoa powder until smooth. If you're using an electric mixer (which I HIGHLY advise) start on a slower speed to keep the powder from flying out of the bowl. Gradually getting faster with smooth lumps and add air for a lighter frosting. Start with 3 tablespoons of milk and add more as needed to create a soft, smooth to make it easy for spreading.

NOTES:
This is one of the few recipes for chocolate cake and frosting from scratch with no problems.
- I used a sweeter apple cider vinegar, you may even want to use something like a balsamic. While the vinegar doesn't seem notable in the final product, it can be a bit overwhelming when it starts baking.
- I added some finely chopped walnuts around the side of the frosted cake to "kick it up a notch."