I love a slice of this pound cake with my beloved morning coffee. It also satisfies my after-dinner sweets craving. Recently, I poked a few (yes, just a few!) candles on top to celebrate my chocolate-loving mother’s birthday. I will be baking it over and over again. Before you rush off to preheat your oven, I want to share a few things I learned that will help you bake the best chocolate pound cake ever.
Cocoa Powder vs. Chocolate
Recipes that call for chocolate either use cocoa powder or chocolate (bars, chunks, or chips), or both. What’s the difference and is one better than the other? The nitty gritty: Both cocoa powder and chocolate come from cacao beans. Chocolate is made with cocoa solids (aka flavor) and cocoa butter (aka fat). Cocoa powder is primarily cocoa solids—it has little fat but produces a strong chocolate flavor when baked. There are two types of cocoa powder out there: natural, often called unsweetened cocoa powder, and Dutch-process. Natural cocoa powder is somewhat acidic in flavor. Dutch-process cocoa powder is treated with an alkali to neutralize that acidity. They are not always interchangeable in baking recipes—you may need to adjust the leavening agent (in this case baking soda) to get the same results. This recipe uses a combination of natural cocoa powder (for chocolatey flavor) and semisweet chocolate chips (for flavor, moisture, and texture).
Butter or Oil? Both!
For a chocolate loaf that is fudgy, moist, and just the right density, butter seemed like the obvious choice. But after testing a few batches, I noticed that my loaf was a little dry the next day. (Disclaimer: It didn’t deter me from eating it.) Trial, error, and some research led me to add a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil, which is liquid at room temperature, for added moisture. Many chocolate cake recipes call for creaming butter and sugar until light and airy, which creates a soft and light cake. Chocolate pound cake calls for melted butter and a little vegetable oil. No need to cream it. The ingredients are mixed until just combined without incorporating any air into the batter. It is dense but still tender and moist.
What Will Intensify the Chocolate Flavor?
I’m glad you asked. Chocolate cakes, brownies, and chocolate puddings often call for coffee. This doesn’t make your recipe coffee flavored, instead it helps to enhance the flavor of the chocolate. Recipes can call for a brewed cup of joe, but here I use a teaspoon of instant espresso powder mixed with hot water. If coffee isn’t your thing, you can simply omit the espresso powder. You’ll still need to add the 1/2 cup of boiling water.
Brown Sugar for More Flavor
Another ingredient that is really going to enhance the chocolate flavor is brown sugar. Brown sugar is simply granulated sugar with molasses (flavor!) added to it. Dark brown sugar has more molasses than light brown sugar. The molasses, just like vegetable oil, is liquid at room temperature and contributes moisture.
How to Tell When the Loaf is Done
Chocolate pound cake is so dark it’s sometimes hard to tell if it’s done baking. Enter the toothpick test! Check for doneness at the low range of the suggested bake time (for this recipe: 65 minutes). Insert a toothpick into the center of the loaf. If it comes out with just a few moist crumbs, it is ready. If you get wet batter, it needs to bake longer. Check every 5 minutes thereafter. If the toothpick is clean, the loaf is overcooked. But that’s okay! An overbaked loaf can be saved by brushing simple syrup over the top and letting it seep down into the loaf.
A Warm Loaf Will Crumble
The hardest part of this recipe is waiting for the loaf to cool completely before slicing into it. A warm loaf will crumble. It will firm up as it cools, ensuring clean slices.
Jazz it Up
While this loaf is scrumptious as is, sometimes fancy is fun.
Fold in your favorite nut, like chopped pecans or walnuts, into the batter before baking. Add white chocolate chips or dried fruit for a different flavor profile. Top it off with a simple chocolate frosting or chocolate ganache. Serve it with whipped cream or sprinkle powdered sugar on top. Fresh berries on the side would be delicious.
Wrap Your Leftovers
Wrap any leftover loaf tightly with plastic wrap or place it into an airtight container. Keep it at room temperature for up to 5 days.
For Your Everyday Chocolate Cravings
Classic Chocolate Mousse Bittersweet Chocolate Cake Chocolate Banana Bread Chocolate Shortbread Sour Cream Chocolate Cake
