montezuma's hot chocolate sheet cake
This is a rich chocolate cake with just a hint of heat. This is totally my own recipe. I originally started with just a chocolate sheet cake recipe that I wanted to spice up a little for something different. Then I remembered that the Mayan's "hot" chocolate was actually drunk cold and had been mixed with spices. It was Montezuma (1466-1520) who introduced Hernam Cortes to his favorite drink 'chocolatl' served in a golden goblet. And it was the fact that Montezuma consumed his "chocolatl" before entering his harem that led to the belief it was an aphrodisiac. :D The very first chocolate drink recipe ever published was in 1631 and called for chillies, almonds, hazlenuts, vanilla beans, cinnamon and anise among other things. I combined the two recipes and played around until I got the flavor I like. I originally posted this at food.com (originally recipezaar) under the same name.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee (optional)
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups unsifted flour
- 1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 2 - eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons chili powder or cayenne powder
- 1 teaspoon anise flavoring
- 1 cup toasted crushed almonds
- 1 cup toasted crushed hazelnuts
- THE ICING
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 tablespoon coffee (optional)
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder or ceyenne powder (optional)
How To Make montezuma's hot chocolate sheet cake
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Step 1Preheat oven to 350°F In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the cocoa and coffee, then water. Bring to a boil; remove from heat.
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Step 2In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and spices. Add cocoa mixture; mix well. Stir in 1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk, eggs, anise and vanilla.
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Step 3Pour into greased 15 x 10 jelly roll pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched.
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Step 4ICING
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Step 5In a small saucepan, melt the butter; stir in the cocoa, coffee, and cinnamon. Add the remaining sweetened condensed milk; stir in confectioners sugar. Spread on the warm cake.
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Step 6Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!
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Step 7Note: If the icing is too thin for your taste, it's simple to add more cocoa or confectioners sugar until you reach the consistency wanted. Or, if it's too thick just add a bit of milk. Also, if you decide to do away with the coffee (in the cake or the icing), just replace it with cocoa. :D.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!