Debbie's Delicious Hot Water GF Chocolate Cake

   Last week I needed a cake for my daughter's birthday.  So I thumbed through a few of my recipe books hunting for just the right one.  It was late in the evening,  and this cake  from my church Come & Dine Cookbook caught my eye because it didn't call for creaming any butter and sugar.  On top of that it was a recipe from a believer I've known for about 33 years.  She's also a very talented baker,  so I knew I could trust this recipe.  

I've never made a chocolate cake with hot water  before.  So I was a bit careful in following all the directions.  I was wondering what it was going to come out tasting like with 1  cup of water!!

 When I made it, I tweaked a few things--I always like to cut down on sugar, so I brought it down 1/2 of a cup, and nobody could tell!  Everybody loved this cake!  It was light and delicious!  

Gluten Free Hot Water Chocolate Cake 

1.  Prepare dry ingredients - In a medium-sized mixing bowl put:
(1)  2 cups of gluten free flour:  I used 2/3 cup sorghum flour, 2/3 cup white rice flour, and 2/3 cup tapioca flour.
(2)  Then stir in 1 tsp. baking soda,  1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 cup Hershey's Cocoa.

2.  Prepare wet ingredients - In a large mixing bowl put:
(1)  1 1/2 cup sugar (the recipe calls for 2 cups)  and 1/2 cup of oil (I used extra virgin olive oil)
(2)  Then add 2 eggs, 1 tsp. vanilla, and 1/2 cup of cold water.
(3)  Mix all the ingredients together well (I used a wooden spoon).

3.  Boil up in your electric tea kettle 1 cup of water.

4.  Combine ingredients:
(1)  Slowly add the dry ingredients to the large bowl of the sugar/oil mixture.
(2) Stir everything together until it's smooth.
(3)  Then gradually add the cup of boiling water stirring carefully.
Note:  This  batter will be rather runny, but it will bake up into a very moist cake!!

5.  Pour batter into a greased  8 1/2 x 11 pan (I used a 9 x 13 pan) and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

6.  Frost with your favorite frosting or try Debbie's:
(1)  In a saucepan put 1 cup of milk and whisk in 1/4 cup of flour; cook until thickened.
(2)  Put a piece of plastic wrap directly onto this surface and let it cool.
(3)  Meanwhile in a large bowl beat 1/2 cup of butter and 1 cup of granulated sugar until fluffy.
(4)  While still beating, add the cooled flour/milk mixture by the teaspoon.
(5)  Add 1 tsp. vanilla and 1/2 tsp. salt and beat 1 more minute.
(6)  Spread over cooled cake.

Simple coconut & nut topping:  I didn't want to add any more sugar, so I went with this simple frosting from a no sugar cookbook I have:  Put 1 cup of sweetened coconut and 1/2 cup of pecans/walnuts into a medium-sized mixing bowl and stir in 1 T olive oil + 1 t and 1 T water and 1 t.  Let it sit a few minutes and then gently scatter it across the cake and spread it so it covers the entire cake!  

Other Gluten Free Baking & Desserts on This Blog:

Breads & Coffee Cakes: 
Gluten free & Low-fat Banana Bread    (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Celebrate Fall With Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread  (A friend's recipe)
Delicious Gluten Free Zucchini Bread (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
My Favorite Gluten Free Cranberry Nut Bread  (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)
Claudia's Blueberry Coffee Cake (Made Gluten Free!)   (From a former neighbor)
Here's a Zucchini Bread with a Hawaiian Twist! Gluten Free Pineapple Zucchini Bread (From my Syre School Cookbook)

Cakes:
Gluten Free German Apple Cake   (From my grandmother)
You Won't Believe It's Gluten Free Carrot Cake (From my daughter's husband's grandma--whew)
Judi's Super Moist Gluten Free Chocolate Cake    (From a church friend)
Judi's Gluten Free Orange Chiffon Cake    (From a church friend)
Marilyn's Spectacular Gluten Free Oatmeal Cake   (My mother-in-law's--she's a great cook!)
The Best Gluten Free Black Bottom Cupcakes   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Delicious Gluten Free Rhubarb Cake   (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Grandma's Gluten Free Applesauce Cake   (From an Internet search--tastes like my grandma's!)
Old Fashioned Gluten Free Banana Cake   (From my grandma)
Rosie's Gluten Free Pineapple Upside Down Cake   (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Overwhelmed By Your Bumper Crop of Zucchini? Try Claudia's Gluten Free Chocolate Zucchini Cake!   (From my former neighbor Claudia of 12 years)
Decadent & Gluten Free German Chocolate Cake  (From my Come & Dine church cookbook)

Cookies:
The Ultimate Gluten Free Cowboy Oatmeal Cookies   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Mom's Go To For Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
The Best Gluten Free Recipe for Snickerdoodles    (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Gluten Free Rocky Road Brownies    (From a church friend)
Mark's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies - Made Gluten Free!   (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Judi's Gluten Free Oatmeal Craisin & Coconut Cookies (From a church friend)
Marie's Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies (Also Great Gluten Free!)   (My friend Marie's recipe)

Cornbread & Rolls:
Beth's Amazing Gluten Free Cornbread   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Judi's Favorite Gluten Free Buttermilk Biscuits   (My friend Judi's sister's recipe)

Crisps & Pies:
Lena's Rhubarb Crunch (A crisp with a gluten free top and bottom crust!) (My daughter-in-law's mother. She's an amazing cook, which I think most of us moms become after a few years!)
Delicious Gluten Free Apple Crisp    (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Ginger's Outrageous Apple Pie    (From a church friend)
The BEST Lemon Meringue Pie with Mrs. Lauralicious Gluten Free Pie Crust  (Internet)
My Grandmother's Favorite Banana Cream Pie  (A recipe from my grandmother)
Granny's Lemon Cheesecake Squares   (From my friend Judi's granny)

Desserts with Fruit:
Sensational Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake   (From the back of Costco's organic sugar)

Terrific Gluten Free Strawberry & Peach Trifle  (Modified from an Internet search)
My Favorite Gluten Free Strawberry Cheesecake (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Just Like Grandma's (But Only Gluten Free) Blueberry Cobbler (My husband's grandma)
Gluten Free Lemony Rhubarb Bars (From my Syre School Cookbook)
Old Fashioned Strawberry Buckle (Made Gluten Free)   (A recipe I picked up from a berry farm)

Holiday Cookies & Baking:

Old Fashioned Gluten Free Pumpkin Cookies  (Modified from back of the Libby's pumpkin can)
My Family's Favorite Gingerbread Cookies (Now Made Gluten Free!)  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
My Grandkids Favorite Gluten Free Peppermint Sugar Cookies  (From Syre School Cookbook)
Our Favorite Pumpkin Pie   (Modified from back of Libby's pumpkin can)
Perfect Gluten Free Pumpkin Cheesecake   (From back of cream cheese box)
Gluten Free Polish Fruitcake  ( Modified from Internet search)
Old Fashioned Gluten Free Gingerbread Cake   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Gluten Free Nordy Bars  ( From my Syre School Cookbook)
Grandma Pitcher's Old Fashioned Sandies (Made Gluten Free)  (My husband's grandma)
Make a Family Tradition & Make Your Own Fruitcake    (From my Heritage School Cookbook)

Muffins:

My Favorite Banana Nut Muffins   (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Gluten Free Tremendous Pumpkin Muffins   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Bursting with Blueberries Gluten Free Muffins   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Toni's Outrageous Gluten Free Corn Muffins    (From back of a Bob's Red Mill package)
Sassy Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Muffins  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)

Puddings & Ice Cream: 

Dairy Free Strawberry Coconut Ice Cream (And other ice cream favorites!) (From searches)

Baked Coconut Pudding   (Something I worked out from my Aunt Sue's rice pudding recipe)

Tangy Lemon Pudding   (From my daughter-in-laws family reunion cookbook)