Foodie Friday - Hot Fudge Cake

Sometimes, as we transition from the busyness of the day to the quiet of night, I feel a yearning, a stirring, a longing, a need. It is the siren song of my  ancestors, crying out from the marrow of my bones.

"We need ice cream. And chocolate."

Tonight, I choose to honor the traditions of my people - the people who cast their cholesterol cares to the wind and eat ice cream before bed. And what better to accompany my delicious scoop of dreamy dairy goodness than this old time classic, which makes its own sauce, right in the pan:

Hot Fudge Cake

3/4 cup white sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
+++
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
4 oz. dark chocolate (coarsely chopped, or use semi-sweet chocolate chips)
1 1/4 cups hot water

Preheat oven to 350º F. Be sure and have some ice cream in the freezer. Combine white sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa, baking powder and salt. Stir in milk, butter and vanilla; beat until smooth. Pour batter into ungreased 9" square baking pan. Crumble brown sugar over the top of the batter. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup cocoa over that. Top with the chocolate, then pour the hot water over the top. Do not stir. Bake 35-40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Let stand 15 minutes. Spoon into serving dishes and taste. Aren't you glad you have ice cream to go with this?