Cocoa Ripple Ring Revisited

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)
4 eggs
3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 tsp baking powder
1 1/3 cups milk
1/3 cup cocoa, or more, (mixed with a tbl or so of sugar if you like)

Cream the sugar and butter. Add the eggs and beat well. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour mixture and milk, alternately, mixing until smooth. Layer batter in thirds, alternating with cocoa mixture, into a well greased 12 cup bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes, till toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in pan then turn out onto a plate, top with powdered sugar and serve.

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I posted about this cake some months ago and it's been crying out to be updated. This was something my dad used to make on Saturday mornings for breakfast. It's kind of like a coffee cake, but without any topping. Instead it has veins of chocolate running through it. It's simple, not too sweet, rich and wicked good. The recipe came from Better Homes and Gardens originally and I just noticed that there isn't any vanilla in it. That seems odd, next time I make it I might try putting some in. But it doesn't need it, that's for sure. Here's what you do.

First, mix together the flour, salt and baking soda. Then cream the softened butter and sugar. I don't always soften my butter properly and whenever I do take the time to I wonder why I don't more often. It makes creaming so much easier. Which is what's next, creaming. Then eggs. This is a half recipe, since I have a six cup bundt pan that I was using. That's why there was only one stick of butter and two eggs. Anyway, you want to mix the eggs in. Then alternate the flour mix and milk till they're all gone and it's well combined. Now prep your bundt pan. I usually use the spray stuff, I've found it's easier what with all the fluting. Now spoon a third of the batter into the pan. Sprinkle a layer of cocoa (I always mix a little sugar into it) on it and repeat. Twice. Each. Until they are all gone. I wound up not using all the cocoa this time for some reason. I should have put it all in. Oh well. Then it's into the oven till brown and lovely. Once it's cooled for five minutes it's flip time. Oh yeah. It's best warm with some powdered sugar. It's some good stuff kids.