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Congrats to everyone who played Friday trivia! The correct answers were:
1. Ryan Clark
2. Casino (South Park holds the record for animated film, but Casino still has more)
3. Fangtasia. (This was tricky — I saw “vampire” bar, not “the bar.”)
Those who qualified are:
Y
Jenny
Okra
Diana
If I missed anyone, please let me know.
Thanks for playing — we have one more round next week to win Martha’s cookie book!
This is the simplest, tastiest chocolate cake ever. It takes about five minutes to mix, roughly 35 minutes to bake, and disappears almost instantly. The appeal is that it’s unbelievably easy yet wonderfully moist and chocolatey.
This recipe comes from my other grandmother (not Mother Lovett), who I haven’t written about much on the blog yet.
The reason I haven’t shared more is that talking about her brings up a lot of emotion. Luckily she’s still with us and very healthy. She’s simply perfect: a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother with a warm, positive outlook and an elegant, timeless presence. We’ve always been close, and I’ll write more about her another time.
But for now: she makes this cake, and it’s incredible. Did I mention how easy it is?
Just three main ingredients:
- Devil’s Food cake mix
- One 20-ounce can of apple pie filling
- Three eggs
Mix the cake mix, apple pie filling, and eggs together — I like to add a teaspoon of vanilla for extra depth. The apple pie filling keeps the cake incredibly moist without making it taste like apples; any apple pieces that remain still blend into the chocolate flavor. I used a light apple pie filling to keep the cake a bit lighter, but regular filling works beautifully, too. Optional add-ins include nuts or chocolate chips.
Pour the batter into a greased 9 x 13-inch pan and bake at 350°F, following the time suggestions on the cake mix box. The result is a tender, chocolate cake with a fine crumb and an irresistible moistness.
Yes, there’s apple pie filling in the cake, and no, it doesn’t taste like apple pie. Instead it adds richness and keeps the cake tender. If you prefer, frost it — my grandmother often does — but this cake is light enough that I sometimes skip frosting so it stays fluffy. We ate ours like brownies, and it was gone in two days.
Simple, Moist Chocolate Cake
Ingredients:
- 1 box Devil’s Food cake mix
- 1 (20 oz) can apple pie filling
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
Optional: nuts or chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350°F. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the cake mix, apple pie filling, eggs, and vanilla. Beat on medium-high for about 2 1/2 minutes until evenly combined. Fold in any optional add-ins. Pour batter into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and bake according to the directions on the cake mix box, checking for doneness with a toothpick.
Frosting is optional; my grandmother often frosts this cake, but I prefer it unfrosted and airy. Serve warm or at room temperature. It’s perfect for casual gatherings, quick dessert fixes, or when you want something chocolatey without fuss.
It’s light, fluffy, and dangerously easy to eat. If you overindulge, consider doing a quick workout later — just maybe wait a few hours.
Stay tuned: Over the next few days I’ll be sharing Holiday Appetizer 101 segments. I have dozens of delicious appetizers to show — some familiar, some new. ’Tis the season!