Easy Double Chocolate Skillet Cake

Serves 8 to 10
 
This super-moist and chocolaty cake looks and tastes as if you spent the whole day slaving in the kitchen but the truth is it comes together as easily as a quick bread and “bakes” on top of the stove. We like it warm with ice cream for an easy weeknight treat or dressed up with luscious chocolate sauce and dollops of fresh whipped cream.

Non stick cooking spray
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
½ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 teaspoons instant espresso powder or instant coffee granules
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs, at room temperature

Spray the 3.5 Quart Sauté Pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
 
Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
 
In another bowl, whisk the buttermilk and espresso powder together until the coffee granules are dissolved. Whisk the oil and eggs into the buttermilk mixture.
 
Whisk the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture until just combined. Whisk in the melted chocolate until the batter is a uniform color with no streaks of flour or chocolate.
 
Scrape the batter into the prepared skillet and smooth it out to the edges of the pan.
 
Cover and cook over low heat until the edges are cooked and the center is set, 45 to 65 minutes. (You will need to gently touch the cake with your fingers. It will feel undercooked in the middle, but it shouldn’t be goopy.) Replace the cover and move the pan off-heat. Allow to stand for 5 min.  
 
Uncover and let stand for about 5 minutes until the surface of the cake is dry.
 
Place a cooling rack over the skillet and invert the cake onto the rack. Serve warm or cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.
 
360 Cooking Tip
The cooking time for this cake is intentionally broad. Some may find it takes even more than 65 minutes before its ready to rest off-heat. How quickly or slowly it bakes may depend on how hot or cool your burners run, and whether your range is gas or electric. The trick is just to be patient and follow the visual clues as they are written in the recipe. If the cake scorches on the bottom no matter how low you go, try lining the bottom of the skillet with a piece of parchment paper that has been cut out to fit the pan. (Don’t use waxed paper, as the wax will melt off onto the bottom of the cake.)
If you do line the pan, note that the total baking time may increase by as much as 15 minutes.
 
360 Finishing Tip
Make easy coffee cream frosting by combining 1 ½ cups whipping cream with 3 tablespoons instant coffee, confectioners sugar to taste, and a splash of vanilla extract; beat to soft peaks. Use a long serrated knife to split the cake into two layers then spread the coffee cream between them and over the top, leaving the sides of the cake exposed. Dust the top of the cake with cocoa powder or sprinkle with chocolate curls.