Chocolate Streusel Cake

Looking for a slightly different cake recipe, one that is not too sweet and needs no icing? One that combines the best of both worlds: chocolate  and vanilla, with a touch of cinnamon as well. This is it! Quick and easy, using simple ingredients found on hand. I highly recommend using real butter and vanilla in the cake batter, as it will make a difference in the batter. It is a light, fluffy, and delicious basic cake batter. The chocolate streusel is also delicious, and I would eat it by the spoonful. It is sweet from brown sugar, chocolaty from cocoa and a few chocolate chips, and has a nice kick of cinnamon. The nuts in it are optional. The recipe calls for baking at 375◦F, though we used a glass pan and has great success at 325◦F, though baking time is slightly longer. This is absolutely delicious warm from the oven. Don't even wait for it to cool a bit, it even cuts well when piping hot!

Chocolate Streusel Cake
CAKE
1/2 cup butter, or hard margarine, softened
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup granulated (white) sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose (plain) flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
STREUSEL TOPPING
2 Tablespoons butter or hard margarine, softened
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 Tablespoons all-purpose (plain) flour
1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 Tablespoons miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 Tablespoons chopped walnuts, optional

Preheat oven to 375◦F. Grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.
CAKE: In a large bowl, place all of the cake ingredients and beat on low until just moistened. Beat on medium speed for two minutes, until smooth. Spread evenly in prepared pan.
STRESUEL: In a medium bowl, combine all streusel ingredients. Sprinkle over batter. Bake for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean. 

My father has already made this cake twice. He came to me looking for a recipe to make for Mother's Day, as I was too busy. This immediately popped in my mind, and I promptly hunted it down in my Potluck Dishes cookbook in the "Company's Coming" series. It is funny how I have been meaning to make some items for awhile, and when they finally are made, they become a new family favorite! We may try doubling the recipe next time, one batch doesn't last nearly long enough at our house.

Paré, Jean. "Chocolate Streusel Cake." Recipe. Potluck Dishes, Edmonton Alberta: Company's Coming Publishing Limited, 2006. 148.