Friday, August 21, 2009

MIKE DOUGLAS' BUTTERMILK CHOCOLATE CAKE

Mike Douglas was a TV personality in the 60's and 70's, for all you young'ns out there. He was an avid cook, and even penned a cookbook. This recipe was printed in a magazine in the 60's. I added some "coffee essence" to it to bring out the chocolate flavor. Instead of cake, I made cupcakes, and used a half recipe. Other than that, I followed the recipe exactly. These are not the best chocolate cupcakes I've ever had, but they're good.

Mike Douglas' Buttermilk Chocolate Cake, adapted
Rating: 8 out of 10

INGREDIENTS: 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2-1/2 large eggs, room temperature, yolk and white separated
2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
1-1/4 cups cake flour, sifted, spooned lightly into cup
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. coffee essence (mix equal parts of instant coffee with coffee liqueur)

Heat oven to 350F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper cups. In medium bowl, cream butter and sugar on medium speed of electric mixer. Add egg yolks and melted chocolate. Beat well.

Sift together flour, soda and salt in small bowl. Add alternately to creamed mixture with buttermilk. Stir in vanilla and coffee essence. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Spoon into cupcake liners, dividing batter evenly. Bake 16-18 minutes, or till toothpick inserted near center of cupcake returns with just a few crumbs. Cool in pans 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to finish cooling, about 1 hour. Frost with favorite frosting. (SL's Chocolate Mint Buttercream Frosting is delicious on these.) Yield: 12 cupcakes

5 comments:

Lyndas recipe box said...

I remember Mike Douglas, of course...These cupcakes look wonderful especially with that yummy looking frosting!

Reeni said...

I've heard of him before but not sure who he is. His cake looks good though! Coffee flavor is so delicious with chocolate.

Denise said...

That frosting looks so yummy, Judy.

LuanneHughes said...

Sounds yummy...but this is NOT the original Mike Douglas Cake recipe. The original (and most amazing chocolate cake ever) used 5 eggs, separated, so you fold in the beaten egg whites at the end. Worth checking out.

Judy said...

Hi, Luanne: As mentioned in my comments, I halved the recipe, that’s why 2-1/2 eggs are used, and they are separated. The cake (in my case cupcakes) are good, but I find that once you add any kind of dairy to the chocolate batter, it takes away from the chocolate flavor. But tastes are personal and everyone has their own opinion. Thanks for your comments.