Published January 1, 2004.
For a chocolate Bundt cake recipe that would deliver a cake that tasted every bit as good as it looked, with a fine crumb, moist texture, and rich chocolate flavor, we used both bittersweet chocolate and natural cocoa, dissolving them in boiling water, which "blooms" their flavor. Sour cream and brown sugar gave our chocolate Bundt cake recipe moisture and flavor. Finally, we enhanced our cake’s chocolate flavor with small amounts of espresso powder and vanilla extract, both of which complement the floral nuances of the chocolate.
Natural (or regular) cocoa gives the cake a fuller, more assertive chocolate flavor than does Dutch-processed cocoa. In addition, Dutch-processed cocoa will result in a compromised rise. The cake can be served with just a dusting of confectioners' sugar but is easily made more impressive with Tangy Whipped Cream and Lightly Sweetened Raspberries (recipes follow). The cake can be made a day in advance; wrap the cooled cake in plastic and store it at room temperature. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.
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