easy chocolate cake

for an easy weekday dessert, here is a superb chocolate cake that is rich and dark, very similar to a brownie texture.  it is baked in a loaf pan and cut into slices, and is easily served with whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate sauce, topped with nuts or even just plain.

preheat the oven to 325.  grease and lightly flour a 9 by 5 by 3 inch loaf pan.  mix dry ingredients in a small bowl to add later to the wet ingredients. mix 1 1/2 cup flour, 3/4 cup Dutch process cocoa ( i used trader joe's), 1 tsp baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. 

in a mixer bowl, cream 1 stick softened unsalted butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1 cup buttermilk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (i used almond today).  Then, add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl and combine.

pour the batter into the loaf pan.  place on a sheet pan and bake for 60 to 70 minutes until done.  allow to cool before serving.