' I haven’t made this cake for a long time, but I used to make it all the time when I had sourdough starter. It takes several hours to make, but it’s definitely worth it.
When the weather gets better, I’m going to get a starter going again. My family loves sourdough bread, and there’s lots of things that can be made with the starter.
Sourdough Chocolate Cranberry Cake
From Allrecipes, by Esther Nelson. Makes one 9″x13″ cake.
1/2 cup sourdough starter
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup dry milk powder
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 eggs
3 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
1 (16 ounce) can whole cranberry sauce
In a large, non-metallic bowl, combine sourdough starter, water, flour and powdered milk. Let ferment uncovered, for 2 to 3 hours in a warm place until bubbly and a clear sour milk odor develops.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a 9×13 inch pan with cooking spray and, using a small sieve or shaker, dust lightly with cocoa powder.
In a separate large bowl, mix together sugar, oil, salt, vanilla, cinnamon and baking soda. Add eggs, melted semi-sweet baking chocolate, and cranberry sauce.
Combine the mixtures together and stir until well blended.
Pour into a 9×13 inch baking pan. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 35 minutes, or until knife inserted into center comes out clean. Cool at least 10 minutes before serving, excellent served slightly warm.
Garnish by sifting powdered sugar onto a paper doily or just dollop spoonfuls of whole berry cranberry sauce on top of each serving of cake.
This cake can also be baked in 2 – 8 inch round layer cake pans, baking time is decreased to 20 to 25 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean. Another can of whole berry cranberry sauce can be spread generously between and on top of the unfrosted layered cake rounds for an impressive look during the holidays!
Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 158 Calories; 6g Fat (35.8% calories from fat); 2g Protein; 24g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 19mg Cholesterol; 140mg Sodium.
Exchanges: 1/2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 0 Non-Fat Milk; 1 Fat; 1 Other Carbohydrates.
*. This stuff is absolutely delicious. Forget about calories and whatnot. It’s too good to be concerned with mundane details. I like to drink it as hot chocolate – I heat up the milk, put in the chocolate mix, add in a little sweetener, and it makes a rich, slightly sweet dark chocolate delight.