Brownie Pudding Cake

from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book

"As this homey dessert bakes, a layer of cake magically rises to the top, leaving a sauce underneath."



1/2 c flour
1/4 c sugar
1 T cocoa powder
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 c milk
1 T cooking oil
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 c chopped walnuts
2 T cocoa powder
1/3 c sugar
3/4 c boiling water

In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour, the 1/4 c sugar, 1T cocoa, and baking powder. (And a dash of salt; the recipe doesn't call for it but I think that every recipe that has flour in it needs at least a little salt!) Add milk, oil, and vanilla; stir until smooth. Stir in walnuts. Transfer batter to a 1-qt casserole.

Combine the 2T cocoa with the 1/3 c sugar. Gradually stir in boiling water. Pour evenly over batter in casserole. Bake in a 350 degree oven about 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center of the cake comes out clean. Serve warm. Makes 4 servings. (They say it makes 4 servings but those would be pretty small servings unless it's served a la mode.)


My notes: I always eat this with fresh whipped cream. I *can* eat the whole thing, if I'm feeling especially piggish and/or sorry for myself! My little trick is that while the cake is baking, I whip the cream by hand, which is a little labor intensive, figuring that it's helping to burn some of the calories I will soon consume.

Whipping cream by hand: start with a cold glass or metal bowl (glass will stay cold longer) and a cold whisk; just put them in the freezer for a few minutes ahead of time. Pour 1/3 c or so of cold cream into the bowl, and a couple of teaspoons of sugar. Tip the bowl towards you and whisk briskly, in an up-and-down circular motion so that you are really whisking air into the cream. It will take a little while but in my opinion, cream that has been whipped by hand is so much better than if it's been whipped with a mixer! It will probably take at least 10 minutes, and your arm will burn... for a long time it will seem like nothing's happening but then when it turns into soft, fluffy whipped cream, you'll know!

3 comments:

EmilyCC said...

This is one of Nate's favorite desserts, and I'm always loosing the handwritten notes his mom made for me. Thanks!

Laurie said...

Loving that you are doing this. Reminds me of our cookbook. When I have time, I'll start cooking again. Need to make your enchiladas soon.

Okay, the password is "fitime"--is it telling me to get fit or to find time?

Natalie Que said...

Hi Sara,

Thanks for your very in depth response on my blog! I love life stories, keep them coming! It seriously has been great to hear that so many people understood what I am / was going through with this one. It is difficult. But it has been a huge relief to just let it all go.

I'm so glad to have readers out there like you, so I hope you keep coming back and I of course wish you every success with your blog and your own struggles with it!

Many thanks!

-Natalie aka Hot Garlic

PS -these are so huge here! They call them 'Self Saucing Puddings'... I like your name better.

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