Chocolate cake isn’t just for special occasions, like weekend birthday celebrations and Un-Valentine’s Day parties. It’s also perfect for breakup cooking and for every January 27th—even if it is a weekday. No matter how many layers, or your frosting preferences, there’s nothing like a chocolate cake to brighten up the darkest of days. In honor of this special annual event, here are some great baking chocolate and cocoa cake recipes from around the web to drool over.
What’s your favorite chocolate cake recipe? Add a link in the comments below. Or, you can always email us at heather@breakupcookbook.com or cate@breakupcookbook.com.
by Cate Wells
Sometimes it’s so cold out that pre-packaged hot cocoa just isn’t going to cut it. Caribbean hot cocoa—the first of Cate’s Cocktails recipes—will keep you warm with a combination of chocolate and dark rum. You can also try it with another type of liquor from the islands like Kahlua? Or if have a thing for Irish guys, maybe Bailey’s? And, yes, spiked swiss miss works too, but your own personal blend is so much more fun on a cold day. Remember that this is perfect for after ice-skating, not before.
TIP: For a topping of fresh whipped cream, there’s no need to get out the mixer or blender. Just add 2 ounces of heavy cream plus a dash of sugar to your coffee grinder. Blend until nicely whipped and voilà.
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon cocoa
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup water
1 ounce dark rum
Bring water to boil in saucepan. Stir in sugar, cocoa, and vanilla until well blended. Remove from heat. Add rum to taste. Makes 1 serving.
How do you like to spice up your hot chocolate?
by Cate Wells
Truffles courtesy Baked Salwa
Stop stressing over who’s been naughty or nice and start focusing on your gift list (even if your ex was borderline at one point—that’s one less present to wrap). Just in case you still have holiday shopping to do, consider a project that is satisfyingly sweet: making your own gifts at home. (I still have a family get-together for January 2nd!)
A baking friend, Salwa, was inspired to give everyone truffles made from scratch this year. So, here’s a little more chocolate before the new year’s resolution kicks in. Her packaging is the perfect complement to these rich truffles. Check out these amazing flavors:
- Ancho chile and cinnamon coated in sugar crystals
- Jack Daniels coated in pecans
- Cardamom and coffee coated in almonds
- Peppermint coated in crushed candy cane
You can read all about her adventures in cocoa at Baked Salwa.
Heather Quinlan
This particular recipe comes from Bar Americain’s lovely and talented Krista Margies Kunkle, pastry chef to the stars. She describes this cake as such: “The first bite will make you exclaim, ‘Sweet Jesus!’ in a way that what’s-his-name never could.” You know it.
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Chocolate cake isn’t just for special occasions, like weekend birthday celebrations and Un-Valentine’s Day parties. It’s also perfect for breakup cooking and for every January 27th—even if it is a weekday. No matter how many layers, or your frosting preferences, there’s nothing like a chocolate cake to brighten up the darkest of days. In honor of this special annual event, here are some great baking chocolate and cocoa cake recipes from around the web to drool over. 
