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1
Grease a 8-inch square or 9-inch round pan or put 12 cupcake papers in a cupcake pan and one extra in a custard cup.
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2
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
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3
To make the cake, whisk the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt together.
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4
Sift only if the cocoa remains lumpy, set aside.
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5
(I sifted it through a fine strainer as I combined it with the wet ingredients in step 5).
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6
In a large bowl, combine the warm melted butter and brown sugar.
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7
Add the eggs and vanilla and stir until well blended.
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8
Add all of the flour mixture at once.
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9
Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon - stir only until all the flour is moistened.
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10
Pour the hot water over the batter all at once.
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11
Stir only until the water is incorporated and the batter is smooth.
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12
Scrape the batter into the pan (or cupcakes - to do that efficiently I scrape the batter into a 4 cup measuring cup and then easily pour it into the cupcake liners.
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13
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
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14
Cake - 25 to 30 minutes, cupcakes 17 - 22 minutes.
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15
Cool the cake in the pan on a rack for about 10 minutes before unmolding.
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16
To unmold, slide a slim knife around the edges of the cake to release it from the pan.
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17
Invert the cake.
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18
Turn the cake right side up and cool completely on a rack before frosting the top and sides.
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19
Or cool the cake in the pan and frost only the top.
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20
Cupcakes can cool in the pan and remove & frost when cool.
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21
While the cake cooks, make the FAST FUDGE FROSTING:.
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22
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter.
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23
Stir in the sugar, cocoa, and salt.
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24
Gradually stir in the cream.
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25
Heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is smooth and hot but not boiling.
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26
Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
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27
Cool until thickened to the consistency of frosting(takes a while at room temp - try putting in fridge to speed up, but watch it!)
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28
or use as a warm glaze or sauce.
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29
Store leftover frosting in the refrigerator.
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30
Rewarm gently in the microwave before using.