Jon: Wow, thanks for that great introduction…nerd! Just kidding. I am honored and excited to be guest blogging here. I love reading new recipes and stories on the Everything in Moderation blog.

When I get a craving for some particular food, I like to just go for it and satisfy the craving — in moderation, of course! This week, for some reason, I had been fixating on having a molasses chocolate cake. So, last night we tried making one and everyone at our holiday game night party agreed: the result was a delicious success.

This recipe is adapted from Jim Bob’s blue ribbon chocolate molasses cake. It is light and fluffy, and extremely moist. We served it with powdered sugar on top, but several people mentioned that it would have been excellent with whipped cream, or cream cheese frosting, as the original recipe had. We also used coffee instead of hot water, which gave the recipe an extra flavor boost. I guarantee it will be eaten as fast as molasses. Enjoy!

Alison: Fast as molasses? What?! Jon, that doesn’t even make sense. Anyways, here is the recipe. Try it out and let us know what you think!

Fast-as-Molasses Chocolate Cake
Makes twenty squares of cake

2 cups granulated sugar
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup dark molasses
1/2 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup hot, strong brewed coffee

1. Whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
2. Add the eggs, milk, molasses, oil and vanilla and beat for 2 minutes.
3. Add the coffee and stir it into the batter by hand.
4. Pour the batter, which will be very thin, into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack (or in the pan, like we did).

Alison: Thanks, Jon! Next up will be my mom with a post about a great baking-related Christmas or birthday gift idea.